
v.<° .-:<s 



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V 
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MEMOIRS OF 
PRINCE JOHN DE GUELPH 



THE MEMOIRS 



OF 



PRINCE JOHN 
DE GUELPH 

EEX ET IMPERATOR DE JURE 

OF 

Great Britain and Ireland 



With Introduction and Many 
Photographs 



NEW YORK 
B. W. DODGE & COMPANY 

1910 






COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY 

WILLIAM RICKEY. 



Registered at Stationers' Hall, London. 
(All Rights Reserved) 

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



PRESS OF WILLIAM 0. HEWITT, BROOKLYN, N. Y. 



g_GU 280059 



gjetfijcatim* 



TO MY BELOVED MOTHER 

To the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Ireland, to the people of the Colonies and British Possessions 
beyond the Seas, to the people of my beloved India, and to the 
people of the United States of America (whose hospitality and 
friendship I have enjoyed for the past twelve years), this 
book is dedicated in the name of the Most High — the King of 
Kings. 

Ekam eva advUiyam. 



CONTENTS 

Chapter I 

Direct Lineal Succession and Royal Titles of John II Rex et 
Imperator de Jure of Great Britain and Ireland and of the 
Empire of India Page 1 

Chapter II 

Casper Hauser Redivius — not quite — Comparing the Early 
Fate of John De Guelph with that of the Famous Foundling. 

Page 19 
Chapter III 

Marriage of the first Princess Consort to H. R. H., the Prince 
of Wales — Facts About the Marriage— The Place of Meeting of 
the Prince of Wales as a Young Man Page 24 

Chapter IV 

The Royal Family Council at Buckingham Palace— The News 
of the Prince's Marriage has reached the Queen — Plotting at 
the Family Council Page 30 

Chapter V 

The Royal Tiff— Lively Scene in the Queen's Closet— The 
Queen wants to Manage the "Affair" all by herself and the 
Prince Consort objects — Details of the plot hatched by the 
Queen — The Marriage to Princess Alexandra Page 35 

Chapter VI 
Early Impressions Page 40 

Chapter VII 

Earliest Recollections— I snub my Grandmother, the Queen — 

I declare a "Holy War" Page 49 

yii 



viii Contents 

Chapter VIII 

A Pathetic Meeting — Fruits of Scarlet Sin of Royal Court 
visited on Second and Third Generations — Why King Solomon 
was Favored of God Page 60 

Chapter IX 

A series of Amusing and Painful Incidents — I remove to 
Lichfield, Staffordshire Page 10 

Chapter X 

Chafing under the Injustice of my Disinheritance and Re- 
straint in my False Position I throw off my Yoke and go into 
the World — a Man among Men Page 8% 

Chapter XI 

I enlist in the Bedfordshire Regiment stationed in Ireland — 
Amusing Incidents with Irish People — I refuse Promotion to 
become better Acquainted with the Soldier's Life. .. .Page 100 

Chapter XII 

Amusing stories of a Soldier's Life in Ireland — With Col. 
Hillier on Spike Island— Outbreak of Convicts — I play the role 
of Commander of Cork Harbor Page 111 

Chapter XIII 

Spike Island University of Experience — The Sorrows of Ire- 
land Portrayed in Chains — Inhuman Evictions, Starvation, Pes- 
tilence, and Death — My soul Stirred with Pity, I take up the 
Burden of my Mother's Ancestral Home Page 122 

Chapter XIV 

Queen Victoria's Pro-German Policy Cause of Oppression in 
Ireland — Proclamation for the Emancipation of Ireland. 

Page 139 

Chapter XV 
I sail for India — Incidents of Voyage Page 1^5 



Contents ix 

Chapter XVI 

My Welcome to India in Striking Contrast to that of my 
Father's — My first Impressions of the Land of Famine — "In- 
dia's Coral Strands," "The Valley of Dry Bones"— The Dying 
and the Dead — Shape my Future Life and I resolve to solve the 
Problem— Incidents of Early Military Life in India. . .Page 152 

Chapter XVII 

Military Life in Secunderabad — I attend Military School — I 
begin the study of Oriental Languages — Sorrow and Soli- 
tude—Ordered to Cannonore, Malabar Coast — Incidents of 
March — Elephant runs Amuck in Camp! — Diamond fields and 
ruby mines of India and Burma Page 165 

Chapter XVIII 

Military Duties— Influence of Missions on Social Life of Mili- 
tary Camps — Oriental Philosophy — I assume the role of "The 
White Yogi! " Page 115 

Chapter XIX 

At Malliapurem — I visit the Warlike Maphlas— In Maphla 
Town— The Sacred Temple of Talliparamba— A personal en- 
counter with Tiger!— In Bed with a Cobra! Page 183 

Chapter XX 

A False Alarm!— The Blind Missionary— A True Romance— 
I refuse the Management of a large Tea and Coffee Planta- 
tion— "Pangs of Regret" Page 194 

Chapter XXI 

I rejoin my Regiment — Military Life in Burma — An Exciting 
Time with a Company of Madras Native Infantry! — I leave the 
Army — Appointed Inspector of Police — An Exciting Arrest! 

Page 201 

Chapter XXII 

Epidemic of Cholera— My Experience in the Cholera Sheds — 
I go to sleep with Dead Convicts, Victims of Cholera! Page 212 



x Contents 

Chapter XXIII 

I Amuse the General's Daughters — Detective Duty — Chasing 
Dacoits!— Visit of the Viceroy— A Wild Drive— Rangoon en 
fete et en Grande Tenue! Page 219 

Chapter XXIV 

Transferred to Mandalay — I am placed in Command of the 
Burma Military Police— Ambushed and Captured, I Surprise 
my Captors Page 230 

Chapter XXV 

I enter the Prison Service — I Supersede my Superiors — In- 
novation in Prison Administration — A Study of Criminology — 
The Practical Application of Physiological-Psychology to Ab- 
normal Data, as Found in the Criminal and Insane. .Page 237 

Chapter XXVI 

Prison Reforms which Affect the Judicial Department and 
Put a Stop to Wholesale Executions Page 2U 

Chapter XXVII 

An Outbreak of Convicts— Warders Killed and Wounded— 
Others escape — I run to their Assistance and Find Myself Un- 
armed and Unsupported before Two Thousand Armed Convicts! 

Page 25k 

Chapter XXVIII 

Transferred to Bassein — In the Power of Assassins — I estab- 
lish Schools— I visit the Malay Peninsula Page 262 

Chapter XXIX 

A Comedy of Errors— I am taken for an ex-Convict— Shad- 
owed by General Manager of a Department Store — The Bishop's 
"cooking brandy! " Page 272 

Chapter XXX 

A Passage of Arms with the Rebels— I run Risk of being 
Converted into Pemican Page 279 



Contents xl 

Chapter XXXI 

I am Taken Dangerously 111 — Being Urged Upon by my 
Spiritual Adviser I send a Message of Forgiveness to my 
Grandmother, the Queen, and my Father, and Thereby Reveal 
my Identity Page 286 

Chapter XXXII 

I am Recommended for Chair of Burmese in Cambridge Uni- 
versity — I Sail for England — Buffeted by Southwest Monsoons, 
we reach England much Battered and Crippled Page 292 

Chapter XXXIII 

I Return to Burma— I Espouse the Cause of the People — My 
Growing Popularity a Menace to those who had Usurped my 
Rights — Fifteen years of Political Intrigue and Persecution fol- 
low Page 298 

Chapter XXXIV 

I Sail for the United States to treat a Blind Millionaire, but 
fall into the Hands of the Philistines of New York. . .Page 309 

Chapter XXXV 

Travels in the Interest of Science — I go to California — In the 
Earthquake of San Francisco — I return to England — Cancer 
Research — I Receive the thanks of my Father, King Edward VII 

Page 315 

Chapter XXXVI 

Business in New York — I found The American Statist — In- 
terest myself in American Politics — A Lady of Worth — The 
American Legislative Union — Public Health Society to Raise 
the Standard of the Public Health Page 325 

Chapter XXXVII 
Conclusion 

Prince John Thanks his Many Friends and Faithful Sup- 
porters in the British Empire, the Press and many Friends 
and Supporters in America — Was "The lady in black" the Dis- 
carded Wife— the Rightful Queen of England — my Mother, per- 



xii Contents 

mitted to view the Remains of her Husband— my Father, the 
King, who, moved by a False Sense of Duty to the Nation and 
the Coercion of his Mother, had Discarded boh Wife and Child? 

Page 334 
DIEU BT MON DROIT. 
MAY GOD DEFEND THE EIGHT. 

ADDENDA Pages 339-1,61 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Prince John de Guelph Frontispiece 

Lineal Successor to Late King Edward VII. 

facing page 
Prince John de Guelph 143 

Rex et imperator de jure. 

Prince John as a Missionary 285 

His Majesty King Edward VII 288 

Queen Victoria 306 

Late Rev. Geo. A. Carpender 430 



TO THE OPEN-MINDED READER 

Heke comes a story, a realistic romance, which 
simply, as such, compels a reading by its human 
interest and sets us thinking over the mysteries of 
life and luck. The writer of these lines had known 
nothing of the author of the book, nor had he ever 
seen him, when by sheer chance some of its printed 
pages came to hand. 

A general prejudice against claims of this na- 
ture gave piquancy to the reading. After allowing 
it full play, the outcome of a fair consideration of 
the entire case is this : 

The claimant verily believes in his claim, which 
fact alone lifts him out of the vulgar impostor 
class. He is not a nobody, with nothing individual 
to claim our attention but his claim. He has lived 
a large life, crowded with activities so varied, and 
in the main so clearly conducted toward the intro- 
duction of desirable reforms in the Home and 
Colonial Government for the better administration 
of the Empire in the interest of the people, and in 
the furtherance of universal peace, as proven by 
the official data cited, that his story would be good 
and instructive reading without its supreme at- 
traction — the claim. Then, independently of these 
features, stands the powerful protest against those 
by whose sanction the most sacred and legal mar- 
xiii 



xiv To the Open-Mmded Reader 

riage of love can be shattered, its victims torn 
apart forever, the offspring outlawed from its 
birthright by the mere sway of a sovereign's scep- 
tre, the decrees of the Bible and the Common Law 
which governs the common people, who make and 
unmake kings, set aside at the whim of a despotic 
or degenerate or meddlesome crowned head, or for 
the equally convenient screen, "reasons of State." 

The personal interest is overshadowed by these 
vaster issues which it illustrates, questions of vital 
moment to every citizen of professedly Christian 
countries. The Eoyal Marriage Act of George III 
is no mere antiquated legal bauble, for royal jest- 
ers to tickle their courtiers' heads with. In cases 
besides the one presented in this book it can 
become a gilded bludgeon when wielded with in- 
tent to kill — say trifles like hearts, sacraments, 
fortunes or just laws. Its interest is not only for 
British subjects. Our Eepublic is fast linking it- 
self, fashion by fashion if not heart to heart, with 
European royalty and English aristocracy in the 
bonds of holy or other wedlock. American wom- 
anhood should have a say in a matter so serious 
for their exported daughters and posterity. 

Over and above the romantic interest in this per- 
sonal record and plea there is that without which 
no claimant can ask serious attention, that is a 
plain, strong, self-proving and temperate presen- 
tation of the case. These elements are here and 
command respect. The rest lies with the reader. 
He is invited to sit and weigh as he reads. The 
author has the advantage of not being a profes- 
sional literary man. He tells his tale with the 



To the Open-Minded Reader xv 

artless candor of a child. His earliest recollec- 
tions are simply recorded ; so, too, the adventures 
of his boyhood as a foster child who from the first 
had an inkling of a higher parentage. Then fol- 
low the strangely ordained series of experiences 
in the army, with real peril episodes in India, quick 
and seemingly unusual promotions ; then as an offi- 
cer of rising grades in the prison there, with re- 
markable incidents, suggestive of the possession 
of a power, or temperamental gift supposed, but 
wrongly, to be the peculiar endowment of Orien- 
tals. In the healing art, ordinary church and edu- 
cational work, and his acknowledged genius for 
"doing things" outside the routine of service duty, 
the author surprises by his versatility and pluck, 
for such things are heretical to your machine- 
made official. 

In the later years his efforts have been to turn 
these practical experiences to practical ends for 
himself, a man's first duty, and then for his country 
and this country. Now, when such an one devotes 
his personal, private efforts to the extremely deli- 
cate duty of pursuing his search for what he hon- 
estly believes to be the bare justice withheld 
unjustly by persons, or by a "reason of State," in 
a country where all royal acts and "reasons of 
State" are commonly viewed as more than semi- 
sacred it is obvious that his path must be pe- 
culiarly an uphill one, and it is certain that all 
sorts of big and little stones will be sent rolling 
down upon him by the fortunate creatures who 
live away up. 

This is the common lot of all claimants. So it 



xvi To the Open-Minded Reader 

is not surprising to read of sudden interferences 
when business affairs are on the verge of success- 
ful completion and of majestic refusals by liveried 
servants to present perfectly proper messages to 
their masters, who, when they learn of flunkey pre- 
sumptions, administer corrections. These are in 
the comedies of life and are good for our temper, 
but a public claimant almost necessarily dwells in 
the pillory. This is a whiff of the romance of life 
and serves a wholesome purpose. It is so cheap 
and easy to fling stones at a deaf and dumb man 
when bis back is turned and he is carrying his load 
of affairs in both hands that perhaps we should be 
as indulgent to the sort of people who think it fair 
sport as we are to the imps who make a midsum- 
mer day a fiery torment to the sick and aged, who 
have no rights, and, anyway, can not get out to hit 
back. Kings and commoners have their full share 
of these joys. 

Looking not merely at but into this moving pic- 
ture of a life, strangely shaped by the mysterious 
forces that bear no name, it would not surprise us 
if the claimant had pitched his story in a shrill 
key. He might have made it scandalous and 
pleaded that, its text being a scandal, the sermon 
should be to match. But, as already stated, the 
temperate, and not seldom dignified, tone and 
spirit of the whole commands respect. If every 
just claim was absolutely demonstrable, at any 
moment of time, through every item and document 
and circumstance from A to Z, laws and law courts 
would never have come into existence. Probably 
the extravagant verbiage of the jury bamboozler 



To the Open-Minded Reader xvii 

originated in the dearth of tacts in hand which 
reasonably prove facts past resurrection. The 
case here presented needs no vulgar screeching; it 
would be fatally injured by it. 

The author had no lack of models and authori- 
ties, such as they are, if he had chosen the sensa- 
tional method, so alien to kingly grace and noble 
blood. The press wields more than the power of 
kings in this our true Republic, and right royally 
does it use it in matters outside the Treasury and 
politics departments. If it has a failing it is its 
liability to mistake its sceptre for a shillalah. It 
can not whack this book as a book of royal scandal, 
which would be to advertise it as a "best seller." 
We have an over-sufficiency of little scandals of 
our own, but it is nice of course to keep up with the 
foreign fashions. The more curious, therefore, it 
is to see writers earn a respectable, certainly a 
genteel, livelihood by purveying to respectable, at 
least genteel, newspapers catering to high caste 
people a daily re-hash of new and decomposed 
scandals, royal, aristocratic, plutocratic, exclu- 
sively besmirching the adored old families of 
Europe. 

The author who submits this book to public 
analysis does not belong to either of these 
classes. He does not invite us to sit down to a 
silver dish which, when we lift the cover, is odor- 
ous of slanderous scandal and rotten-ripe apples 
of Sodom. His claim to royal blood carries at 
least the stamp of courtly manners. Not so with 
the garbage gatherers who make their scanty liv- 
ing by it, nor with those who, by selling it at cheap 



xviii To the Open-Minded Reader 

retail, rake in the millions which pay their en- 
trance fee into the grand stand where they wear 
the badge of a dollarocracy not yet aristocracy. 
Leaving those who hunger for high-spiced, mythi- 
cal "mysteries of the Courts of London" to these, 
their daily caterers, the present claimant is content 
that this budget of biography, facts, attestations 
and arguments shall speak for itself and for his 
claim. 

More than this he does not ask; less than an 
open-minded reading will be a denial of every 
claimant's common right. 

Novembek 1, 1910. 

An Englishman. 



PREFACE 

BRITISH-AMERICAN PATRIOTISM AND JUSTICE 

Patriotism and justice actuated by the all-per- 
vading spirit of moral principle, and directed by 
the judicious exercise of the divine intelligence 
of the super-cosmic consciousness, are the mag- 
netic corner stones upon which the British- Ameri- 
can people have built the allied world-power 
Empire-Republic, the center of civilization and 
Christian enlightenment to which all other nations 
turn in friendship and peace. 

The subject of these Memoirs appeals to the 
high moral sentiment and spirit of justice of the 
British- American people, in particular, and of the 
whole civilized world in general. 

British loyalty to the Sovereign is proverbial. 

The subject of these Memoirs appeals to British 
loyalty to protect the direct line of legitimate 
lineal succession to the throne, and to loyally 
support the legitimate heir-at-law of the late 
deeply lamented Sovereign, His Majesty King 
Edward VII. 

As a Christian nation, England, in framing the 
laws by which the civil contract and religious sac- 
rament of holy matrimony, and the right of in- 
heritance, are regulated, based the said laws 
upon the Divine Laws in the Holy Scriptures, 
xix 



xx Preface 

which are quite clear, and which no earthly Sov- 
ereign has power to change, for it is written, "Till 
heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall 
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." 

A Sovereign who violates the law of God, and 
the nation, both collectively and individually, 
that countenances and approves or even tolerates 
such violation of the Divine Law by their Sover- 
eign, stand equally guilty before God. 

The direct line of legitimate lineal succession 
to the British throne is determined by the follow- 
ing law: 

"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and 
another hated ; and they have borne him children, 
both the beloved and the hated; and if the first- 
born son be hers that was hated; 

"Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to 
inherit that which he hath, that he may not make 
the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of 
the hated, which is indeed the firstborn; 

"But shall acknowledge the son of the hated 
for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion 
of all that he hath ; for he is the beginning of his 
strength; the right of the firstborn is his." Deu- 
teronomy, 21 : 15, 16 and 17. 

Queen Elizabeth recognized and observed this 
law by reviving the Act 32, Henry VIII C. 38 
(repealed in part by 2 and 3 Edward VI C. 23, 
and in whole by I and 2 p. and M. C. 8, but re- 
vived by the I Elizabeth I which enacts that 
"No prohibition, God's law except, shall trouble 
or impeach any marriage without the Levitical 
degrees." 



Preface xxi 

It can not be said that the reigns of Henry VIII 
and Elizabeth were marked by a higher manifes- 
tation of Christian principle and moral sentiment 
than during the past fifty years. But, the indiffer- 
ence and apathy with which Christian England 
and the Christian world have countenanced the 
practice of royal bigamy, and the setting aside by 
Princes of the Eeigning House of their lawful 
wives, without cause and without due process of 
law, and the disfranchising and casting off of their 
legitimate offspring, in favor of plural wives and 
their illegitimate issue, is a blot upon the refined 
fabric of our vaunted Christian piety and ad- 
vanced civilization; since the so-called and de- 
spised "heathen" would not stoop to such barbar- 
ous and unholy acts. 

The harems of the followers of the derided 
"false prophet" are havens of domestic peace 
and felicity, when compared to the torture of mind, 
and body, and soul, of the repudiated wife of a 
"Christian" Eoyal Prince. The Buddhist Mon- 
arch, His Majesty the King of Siam, has for some 
years past been conducting a continued model les- 
son in England for the edification of the British 
Royal Family and the British public in the ethics 
of true morality and paternal duty to offspring. 

The small army of sons of His Majesty, by his 
first and plural Queens, attending schools and col- 
leges in England, has been frequently commented 
upon by the English press. Such, however, is the 
common misconception of the Christian world of 
their particular form of religious faith, and of 
the immunity with which their Kings may violate 



xxii Preface 

the laws of God, that they are loath to accept the 
lesson of Christian love and paternal duty as illus- 
trated by this so-called "heathen" King. 

The ' * still small voice," the voice of the con- 
science, speaks to the people of the United King- 
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and to the 
Christian people of the great Republic of the 
United States of America and of the world, to 
demand that the barbarous custom of Princes in 
repudiating their lawful wives, and casting adrift 
their legitimate offspring be stopped, and that the 
direct line of legitimate lineal succession to the 
Throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain 
and Ireland be protected, and that British loyalty 
and justice be shown to the eldest legitimate 
son and heir-at-law of His late Majesty King 
Edward VII. 

John, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland. 



SUMMARY OF THE CASE OF PRINCE JOHN 

DE GUELPH OF GREAT BRITAIN 

AND IRELAND vs. ROYAL 

POLYGAMY 

MAY GOD DEFEND THE RIGHT 

I was born in Windsor Castle on the 8th of Janu- 
ary, 1861. 

I have resided in the United States of America 
for more than ten years. 

With the assent of Queen Victoria, my grand- 
mother, and with the consent of my father, the late 
King Edward, I assumed the family name of the 
reigning dynasty of Great Britain and Ireland: 
Guelph. Thus for many years prior to my advent 
to America I enjoyed the recognition and protec- 
tion of my father as a legitimate member of the 
House of Guelph. 

My mother, the first Princess Consort of King 
Edward, comes from one of the most historic of 
the noble families of the United Kingdom, her an- 
cestors having come in the train of William the 
Conqueror, and she was considered to be the most 
beautiful lady in the Royal Court. She has lived 
in voluntary exile and has been engaged in preach- 
ing the Gospel and doing pious service in Asia. 

The mutual attachment which sprang up be- 



xxiv Summary 

tween the heir apparent to the throne and the 
beautiful lady of his choice was frowned upon by 
the Queen and the sovereign will was brought to 
bear upon the young Prince in a manner calculated 
to make him amenable to the Queen's own plan in 
the choice of his future consort. 

The Prince of Wales was required to attend the 
manoeuvres at the Curragh, County Kildare, Ire- 
land, in the early spring of 1860. 

It was about that time that my father took the 
opportunity to exercise his self-will and diplo- 
macy, for which he was noted throughout his life, 
by marrying the bride of his choice — in order to 
escape the political alliance for which he was 
slated but which was repugnant to his refined 
nature. 

When Queen Victoria was informed of the mar- 
riage she summoned her son and daughter-in-law, 
establishing the latter in apartments in Windsor 
Castle and sending the Prince on his travels across 
the sea to Canada and to the United States. From 
this fact it is to be presumed that if, in the mar- 
riage contracted by my father and mother, there 
had been one word omitted from the ritual, or any 
of the ecclesiastical or civil disabilities recognized 
by English law, the first Princess Consort, my 
mother, would never have been allowed to set foot 
in Windsor Castle, much less to live there as a 
guest to be confined in the royal residence. Hence 
the reasonable conclusion that their marriage was 
legal, and, consequently, the expected issue thereof 
legitimate. My mother was above reproach or sus- 
picion, and her rank was sufficiently high to entitle 



Summary xxv 

her to be the Queen Consort in that it was the 
equal of that of some of the queens and crown 
princesses of continental powers of the present 
day and vastly superior to that of several former 
Queens of England ! 

The reason why this book was not published 
during my father 's life is twofold. I was naturally 
reluctant to embitter the last years of my parents' 
life by reviving these painful memories, and, sec- 
ondly, because my father, on October 23, 1906, 
having found that it was inexpedient, at that time, 
to further emphasize his sovereign pleasure by 
royal "command" for due recognition of certain 
reforms introduced by me, and already supported 
by His Majesty, expressed his regret that he was 
' 'unable to do anything further in the matter," in- 
timating that it was impossible to force the issue 
without precipitating a national political crisis 
which would have caused a rupture in the reigning 
house and which he was naturally anxious to avert 
during his life. 

Recognizing the fact that my father had no al- 
ternative but to obey the sovereign command of 
Queen Victoria in separating from his first Con- 
sort, my mother, and, further, that my father's 
exalted station as Sovereign of the Realm justified 
his desire that I should allow a matter of such vital 
political importance as the one in question touch- 
ing the direct legitimate lineal succession to the 
throne to rest until after his death, I considered it 
to be my duty to him and to the Empire to respect 
his wishes, even at the expense of further self- 
sacrifice. 



xxvi Summary 

Foreseeing, toward the end of 1909, the ap- 
proaching dissolution of my father, King Edward 
VII, the long pent-up sorrow of my life broke 
the bonds of silence, and I decided that the hon- 
ors, so long withheld from my cruelly wronged 
mother, should be done her before her husband's 
demise. 

Accordingly, in the month of December last, I 
wrote to the King, urging him as sovereign, con- 
sort and father to lose no further time in publicly 
acknowledging my mother. Then, also, I began 
to compile these memoirs. 

Under date of January 10, 1910, I again wrote 
to my father, duly advising him of my intention 
to publish these memoirs, and, in order that he 
might be fully informed of my attitude while it 
was still in his power to exercise his sovereign 
prerogatives and a husband's privilege to right 
the wrongs inflicted upon his lawful wife, my 
mother, I sent him as much of the first draft of 
the MS. as was then finished. 

The legal recognition and protection as a legiti- 
mate son which I enjoyed from my father since 
the time when he first made known my identity 
in 1893, persuaded me that, even should the King 
fail to rectify his matrimonial tangle ere he passed 
from life — an affair involving the question of di- 
rect, legitimate, lineal succession — his possible 
neglect, I said, to take decisive action ought to 
be considered as indicative rather of his Majesty's 
statesmanlike conviction that the adjustment had 
better be left until after his death, than to ill- 
favor, either toward my mother or myself. 



Summary xxvii 

The King offered no objection to my memoirs, 
though there can be no manner of doubt that 
the far-reaching effect the publication of a book 
of this kind must, of necessity, have upon his 
second family and the British Empire at large, 
was clearly mirrored in that wise head of his. 
He also knew of my intention to cause the so- 
called Royal Marriage Act and the barbarous Act 
of William and Mary, the Bill of Rights, to be ex- 
punged from the statutes of Great Britain yet pro- 
tested not. 

My last letter to my father, under date of April 
10, 1910, conveyed my final appeal that he take 
the necessary steps in the above important mat- 
ter, but the condition of his health at that time, 
coupled with the political crisis in England due 
to the strained relations between the upper and 
lower houses of Parliament, made it absolutely 
impossible for King Edward to comply with my 
filial request, as I realize now. 

My father having now been taken from me and 
from our loyal and devoted people, it becomes 
my duty as his eldest, legitimate son to right the 
wrong done my mother, and to put a stop to the 
practice of unholy royal polygamy, repugnant to 
the tenets of Christianity and the moral sentiment 
of all good people. 

Even if I were the poorest subject of the United 
Kingdom, a son of the people, understanding the 
law as I now do, I would be in honor bound to 
make war on this Royal Marriage Act in order to 
enforce compliance with the constitutional law 



xxviii Summary 

providing for direct legitimate lineal succession 
to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland. 

Let me state beforehand that I bear no ill will 
to any member of my late father's family. In my 
correspondence with my half-brother George — 
known as George V of Great Britain and Ireland 
— George, the incumbent of honors, prerogatives 
and millions, my rightful patrimony, no trace of 
rancor, of annoyance, even, will be discovered. 
Being satisfied that justice is bound to triumph in 
the end, I read with satisfaction of the appoint- 
ment of my uncle, the Duke of Connaught, to the 
vice-royalty of Canada ; let sister Louise (by half, 
I am sorry to say) glory in the empty title of Prin- 
cess Eoyal, and let my other sisters, sisters-in- 
law and nephews enjoy their appanages from the 
nation and the family treasury — my family treas- 
ury. I envy them not, and, unlike Cousin d'Artois 
(afterward Charles X), who steeped his body 
naked in the yellow metal pouring from barrels 
of coined gold discovered in the Tuilleries cellars 
after Napoleon's defeat, the inevitable success of 
my present efforts will find me more worried, per- 
haps, but no less calm than at the outset of this 
campaign. 

I repeat that I bear no ill-will to George, nor to 
our common sire. It was an infamous law that 
separated my mother and the father of her un- 
born babe; that tore the infant from her young 
breast; that cast both mother and child adrift — 
the one to go through life a heartbroken woman, a 
distracted mother; the other committed to the 
care of strangers, to be illtreated as a babe, neg- 



Summary xxix 

lected in youth, persecuted in manhood, a wan- 
derer on the face of the earth, a homeless man, 
a prince without country, maligned, tormented, 
subjected to poverty through political intrigue and 
malicious interference with his business interests, 
falsely accused, beset for years by hired assassins 
and exposed to imminent and violent death a thou- 
sand times. 

And the separation of my parents, ordered by 
Queen Victoria, is but one of the crimes sanc- 
tioned by this law that winks at the scarlet sin 
of royal polygamy. In 1884 the royal lady, my 
lamented grandmother, appealed to it to force 
Grand Duke Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt to expel 
his morganatic wife of a few hours from his do- 
mains. That H. R. H. was a German Prince and a 
sovereign availed him nothing since, first and last, 
he was Victoria's son-in-law, slated to marry my 
Aunt Beatrice — the Deceased Wife's Sister's bill 
permitting — and when on January 14, 1892, my 
oldest half-brother, the Duke of Clarence and 
Avondale, died rather suddenly, the present de 
facto King, then Prince George Duke of York, was 
ordered, under the same law, to separate from his 
lawful first wife and their children in order to 
wed Princess May, Clarence's betrothed. 

Disregarding the Hesse case as without British 
jurisdiction, we have seen the throne of England 
twice dishonored, within fifty years from date, by 
crimes against helpless wives and children : Eoyal 
Princes cast off their lawful wife and marry again 
without procuring a divorce from their first wife. 

According to the canonical and civil statutes 



xxx Summary 

by which marriage is regulated in the United 
Kingdom, or in any other civilized country for 
that matter, such second matrimonial alliances are 
null and void, because bigamous ; their issue, con- 
sequently, is illegitimate. 

However, that royal wives, consorts of the high- 
est in the land, are discarded, royal Princes and 
Princesses of Great Britain disowned; that the 
bar sinister is raised over Buckingham Palace, 
and the nation's wealth bestowed upon individuals, 
who, whatever their personal worth, have abso- 
lutely no claim on the public bounty, is not due 
to my remoter ancestor, the third George, and the 
actions of my grandmother, Queen Victoria, alone 
— the citizens of Great Britain and Ireland are 
equally guilty. Where my relatives sinned, they 
connived. Whenever, intoxicated with arbitrary 
power assumed over their immediate family, the 
sovereigns disregarded the constitution and every 
moral law, British subjects acquiesced. 

That the King can do no wrong has been 
drummed into the ears of Englishmen so per- 
sistently; the story that Mr. Pitt went down on 
his gouty knees before the King ; yes, and my Lord 
of Marlborough, too, and their Graces of Canter- 
bury, as well as statesmen and conquerors — all this 
is so popular in our isles that loyalty shrinks from 
inquiring too closely into rumors of sovereign 
acts inconsistent with the dignity of the crown 
and manly honor, inconsistent with proper re- 
gard for womanhood and the rights of legitimate 
offspring. 
It is due both to the throne and to the people 



Summary xxxi 

to end this scandalous state of affairs. If I were 
but an humble subject of the great British realm, 
it would, as stated, be my privilege to contribute 
to this end — as the King de jure it is my sacred 
duty, and I now ask the people of the United King- 
dom of Great Britain and Ireland : 

First: To put an end, now and for all time, 
to the practice of bigamy by princes of the royal 
house, or the sovereign. 

Secondly : To recognize the legal status of the 
first and only lawful wife of his late Majesty 
Edward VII, their real Queen Dowager, my 
mother, which act, as a logical consequence, guar- 
antees recognition of my own rights under the 
laws of Great Britain and Ireland. 

John, Rex et Imperator de jure. 



Memoirs of 

Prince John de Guelph 



CHAPTER I 

DIRECT LINEAL SUCCESSION AND EOYAL TITLES OF 

JOHN II. REX ET IMPERATOR DE JURE OF 

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND OF 

THE EMPIRE OF INDIA 

The lineal descent and succession to the royal 
title of Prince John de Guelph is determined under 
the provisions of the following laws, to wit : 

I. (a) Under the provisions of the Marriage 
Acts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Ireland, and (b) the Ecclesiastical and Civil Dis- 
abilities. 

II. Under the provisions of the so-called Royal 
Marriage Act, the 12 George III C. II. 

III. Under the provisions of the law govern- 
ing legitimate genealogical descent and succession, 
by which legislative measures it is provided that 
legitimate offspring only possess the legal right 
to bear, and to transmit to posterity, the family 
name of the paternal house. 

1 



% Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

IV. Under the provisions of the legislature 
governing lineal succession to titles of descend- 
ants of the House of Guelph and Saxe-Coburg- 
et-Gotha. 

The provisions of the Ecclesiastical and Civil 
Marriage Law are very clear ; the mutual consent 
of the parties to the marriage contract, whether 
in the presence of witnesses or not, and whether 
committed to writing or not, is all that is neces- 
sary within the meaning of the Marriage Acts to 
establish the validity of marriage. 

Any man and woman are capable of marrying, 
subject to certain disabilities, canonical and civil. 
The effect of a canonical disability as such is to 
make the marriage not void but voidable. The 
marriage must be set aside by regular process, and 
sentence pronounced during the lifetime of the 
parties. 

England. — In England the civil disabilities are : 
(1) The fact that either party is already married 
and has a spouse still living; (2) the fact that 
either party is of unsound mind; (3) want of full 
age (puberty), which, according to the Roman 
law, still in force, is placed at fourteen years for 
males and twelve years for females; (4) proximity 
of relationship within the prohibited Levitical 
degrees. 

The most important Acts in force in England 
are the 4 George IV C. 76 and 6 & 7 William IV 
C. 85. By the 19 & 20 Victoria C. 96, "The con- 
sent of parents is not necessary to the validity of 
the marriage, even of minors ; but marriage under 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 3 

the age of puberty, with or without such consent, 
is void." 

The Eoyal Marriage Act (12 George III C. II), 
passed in consequence of the marriages of the 
dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester, enacted that 
"no descendant of his late Majesty George II 
(other than the issue of Princesses married or 
who may marry into foreign families) shall be 
capable of contracting matrimony without the pre- 
vious consent of his Majesty, his heirs and suc- 
cessors, signified under the great seal. But in 
case any descendant does contract a marriage dis- 
approved by his Majesty, such descendant, after 
giving twelve months' notice to the privy council, 
may contract such marriage, and the same may be 
solemnized without the consent of his Majesty, 
and shall be good, except both Houses of Parlia- 
ment shall declare their disapprobation thereto." 

There is nothing within the meaning of the so- 
called Eoyal Marriage Act to invalidate a mar- 
riage contracted by a "descendant of his late 
Majesty George II," without having previously 
obtained the consent of the sovereign under the 
great seal, within the meaning of the canonical 
and civil disabilities, or within the meaning of 
the statutory legislation, by which the contract 
and sacrament of marriages is regulated. 

The statute which establishes the rule on 
canonical and civil disabilities, and the unconsti- 
tutionality of the Royal Marriage Act, 12 George 
III C. II, and the validity of a marriage contracted 
by a royal Prince, "descendant of his late Maj- 
esty George II," without the consent of the sov- 



4 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

ereign, is the 32 Henry VIII C. 38 (repealed in 
part by 2 & 3 Edward VI C. 32, in whole by 1 & 2 
P. & M. C. 8, but revived by the 1 Elizabeth C. I), 
which enacts that "no prohibition, God's law ex- 
cept, shall trouble or impeach any marriage with- 
out the Levitical degrees." 

With reference to the first marriage of his 
Majesty King Edward VII, contracted without the 
formal consent of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, 
with the most beautiful daughter of one of the 
most noble families in the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland, and therefore duly 
qualified by birth and title to have become the 
Queen of England, there is no record of a royal 
proclamation under the great seal to set aside the 
said marriage. 

In the absence of any public record of a royal 
proclamation by the sovereign or legal process to 
set aside the first marriage of his Majesty King 
Edward VII, the formal consent of the late sov- 
ereign, as contained in the royal proclamation 
under the great seal, to the marriage of his 
Majesty and the Princess Alexandra would be ir- 
regular, and the second marriage was contracted 
in violation of provisions of the canonical and 
civil disabilities, which, according to the State 
Legislature, include: (1) "The fact that either 
party is already married and has a spouse still 
living"; and (2) in violation of the provisions of 
the 1 Elizabeth C. I, which enacts that "no pro- 
hibition, God's law except, shall trouble or im- 
peach any marriage without the Levitical de- 
grees." 



Memoirs of Frincc John De Guelph 5 

The provisions of the Acts of the Legislature 
governing legitimate genealogical descent are 
clear and are generally understood. 

Legitimacy of offspring is legally established 
in a person who bears, and who is publicly known 
by, the family name of the paternal house. 

A paternal parent by recognizing the right of 
his offspring to be so known and called by his 
family name, legitimatizes and thereby legally 
recognizes and protects the rights and privileges 
of such legitimate offspring to bear and to trans- 
mit to posterity the family name of the paternal 
house. 

In the case of the late sovereign, his Majesty 
King Edward VII, the King was the head of the 
royal House of Guelph, and had, therefore, the sov- 
ereign power to recognize the legitimacy of, and to 
legitimatize, offspring of the House of Guelph, ac- 
cording to his royal pleasure. 

His Majesty King Edward VII could command 
the recognition of the legitimacy of his own off- 
spring by his Majesty's first Princess-Consort, or 
other offspring of the reigning family, by one or 
more of the following methods of procedure: 

I. By royal proclamation signified under the 
great seal. 

II. By his last will and testament. 

III. By the royal command that such offspring 
shall be known and recognized by the family name 
of the royal House of Guelph, or by such other 
name or title as his Majesty may be graciously 
pleased to confer upon such offspring. 

IV. By permitting such offspring to bear and 



6 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

to be publicly known by the name of the royal 
family of the House of Guelph, and authorizing 
the recognition of the same, by general usage 
and custom, by correspondence or otherwise. 

To determine the legitimacy of the issue of the 
first marriage of his Majesty King Edward VII, 
Prince John de Guelph, the subsequent setting 
aside of that marriage by royal proclamation or 
by other legal process would not have invalidated 
the said marriage during the time of its exist- 
ence, up to the time of such royal proclamation, 
or sentence by other regular process according 
to law, assuming that such royal proclamation 
had been issued, nor would such annulment, had 
it been legally carried out, have illegitimatized the 
said issue. 

Under the provisions of the Ecclesiastical and 
State law, and irrespective of the consent or non- 
consent of the late sovereign to said marriage, 
and of the question as to whether the said mar- 
riage was or was not set aside according to law, 
the legitimacy of the said issue of the marriage 
was legally established by the recognition and 
protection accorded to him for many years past 
as a legitimate member of the House of Guelph 
by his late father, his Majesty King Edward VII 
as the sovereign head of the reigning house. 

Confirming the foregoing statement of facts 
relative to the legal recognition and protection of 
the legitimate lineal descent of Prince John de 
Guelph, it may be stated that while the said John 
de Guelph, for political and State reasons, during 
the early years of his life, lived in seclusion, his 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 7 

identity was made public in India, during what 
was thought by his physicians to be a fatal illness, 
in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety- 
three, and was confirmed at that time by his 
father, then Prince of Wales. 

From the above-named year the subject of these 
memoirs continued to bear, and has been publicly 
known by, the family name of his paternal parent. 
The legitimacy of John de Guelph is legally es- 
tablished by virtue of such public recognition of 
his identity as a legitimate member of the House 
of Guelph. 

His legitimacy was further confirmed by his 
Majesty King Edward VII, immediately follow- 
ing the coronation of his Majesty in 1902, by a 
command to the War Office to entertain official 
relations with the business house of Guelph & Son, 
under which firm name and style John de Guelph 
was then and is at the present time conducting 
his financial business. 

The London offices of Guelph & Co. were then 
at Grosvenor Mansions, 82 Victoria Street, West- 
minster, S.W., and at 20 Bishopsgate Street 
Without, E.C. 

The legitimacy of John de Guelph is further 
established by extensive documentary evidence of 
private correspondence of an affectionate and 
filial nature between him and his father, King Ed- 
ward VII, and the mass of official correspondence 
between him and the various departments of the 
British Government covering a period of many 
years. 

In corroboration of the above statement, part 



8 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

of the aforesaid private and official documentary 
evidence is reproduced. 

The hereditary titles and qualification thereto 
of all members of the House of Guelph are defined 
by law, as set forth in the Almanack de Gotha, 
to wit : 

MAISON BRUNSWICK-LTTNEBOURG 

(Maison des Guelfes) 
Les enfants du chef act. de la maison portent 
le titre de prince roy. ou princesse roy. de Grande- 
Bretagne et d'Irlande, due ou duchesse de Bruns- 
wick et de Lunebourg avec la qualification d'Alt. 
Royale. 

GRANDE-BRETAGNE ET IRELANDE 

(Maison des Guelfes ou de Brunsivich-Lunebourg) 
Les cadets portent le titre de princes et prin- 
cesses roy. de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande, 
princes et princesses de Saxe-Coburg-et-Gotha, 
dues et duchesses de Saxe, avec la qualification 
d'Alt. Royale. 

GRANDE-BRETAGNE ET IRLANDE 

(Maison des Saxe-Coburg-et-Gotha) 
Les cadets descendant de la reine Victoria por- 
tent le titre de princes et princesses royale de 
Grande-Bretagne et Irlande, et les princes et 
princesses de Saxe-Coburg-et-Gotha, dues et 
duchesses de Saxe, avec la qualification d'Alt. 
Royale. 

During the lifetime of the late King Edward, 
then, the hereditary titles and qualifications of the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 9 

subject of these memoirs, John de Guelph, were 
Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of 
Saxe, Koyal Highness. In addition, as the direct 
legitimate issue of the House of Guelph, the cre- 
ated titles of Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, 
Count of Chester, Count of Carrick, Count of 
Dublin, Baron of Renfrew, and, according to the 
law of both Church and State, heir-apparent to the 
throne of Great Britain and Ireland and the 
Empire of India. 

The foregoing presentation of the case in brief 
is confined to facts, statutes and the canonical and 
civil disabilities, by which all marriages in the 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland are 
regulated. These memoirs are given to the public 
to fill a higher purpose, however, than that of 
self-interest. 

For the future protection of the honor of 
womanhood, of the sanctity of the divine institu- 
tion of matrimony, of the rights of innocent off- 
spring, of the honor and dignity of the Consti- 
tution of the State and Empire, of the holy order 
and divine authority of the Church, and of the 
more sacred observance of the Laws of Almighty 
God, it is my purpose to arouse public sentiment 
that immediate action may be taken for the aboli- 
tion of abuses against the sacred rights and privi- 
leges of Princes of the reigning House, and of the 
people, to be effected by the repealment of two 
Acts of the British Legislature, which are as un- 
constitutional as they are barbarous, bigoted and 
unholy in the sight of God and man : 



10 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

I. The Royal Marriage Act 12 George III C. II. 
II. The Statute of William and Mary (The Bill 
of Eights.) 

In order to understand the importance of ad- 
justing the first of the above Acts it is well to 
study the subject from a legal standpoint, as never 
presented to the public before. 

He who is guilty of willfully deceiving a virtu- 
ous woman by inducing her to go through a form 
of "mock marriage," the victim being led to be- 
lieve that she is being legally married to the man, 
would be personally dealt with by nine hundred 
and ninety-nine out of a thousand fathers, or, 
would be lynched by the outraged community in 
order to expedite justice. It may be safely con- 
jectured that the jurists of the civilized world 
would hold such a father or community justified 
in meting out swift justice to such a villain. By 
the due process of law such a criminal would be 
sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. 

What shall we say of the so-called Royal Mar- 
riage Act? 

We can not take seriously the verdict of laymen, 
or the babblings of irresponsible persons who pose 
as authorities on the subject, and declare that ac- 
cording to the provisions of the Royal Marriage 
Act, a prince is "incapable of contracting a mar- 
riage" without having obtained the consent of 
the Sovereign thereto signified under the great 
seal. 

King George III was in spirit, if not in fact, an 
autocratic monarch. So exaggerated were his 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 11 

ideas of the exalted station of Kings and royalty 
in general, that he looked upon the descendants of 
George II as beings of a more celestial order than 
he considered his non-royal subjects to be. 

His sensitiveness on this matter filled him with 
a desire to curb the matrimonial inclination of his 
two brothers; and, at the same time, to keep his 
son, the Prince of Wales, in leading-strings, that 
he might exercise his sovereign rights as a match- 
maker in disposing of his royal relatives. Hence, 
his ridiculous bluff, the creation of the Royal Mar- 
riage Act, the 12 George III C. II. 

Had George III in his speech from the Throne 
commanded the sun to stand still, the moon to re- 
verse its course, and the oceans to become dry 
land, he would have acted with greater wisdom 
than he did by his insane attempted usurpation 
of the attributes of the Almighty, in presuming 
to turn the course of human love. Edicts on the 
sun, moon and ocean would have been harmless; 
whereas, the royal decree against the affairs of 
the human heart has wrought untold injustice in 
the lives of many of England's most noble princes 
and Britain's purest maidens, not to speak of in- 
nocent offspring robbed of their birthright, or of 
the confusion occasioned thereby in matters of 
grave importance to the State and Empire. 

Bearing in mind, then, the fact that the so-called 
Royal Marriage Act was the creation of the whim 
of George III, to prevent, if possible, the form- 
ing of mesalliances in the royal family, can it be 
supposed that had George III considered his 
Royal Marriage Act to be constitutional he would 



12 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

have been a party to what he could only have 
looked upon as mock marriages between his 
brothers, the dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester, 
with Mrs. Horton (Lord Ianham's daughter) and 
the Dowager Countess Waldgrave? Can it be 
thought that he would have connived at a mock 
marriage by his own son? Can the world think 
that the royal dukes of Cumberland and Glou- 
cester, brothers of George III, and George IV, 
and, during the last reign, the late Duke of Cam- 
bridge, Edward VII, when Prince of Wales, and 
George, Prince of Wales, and others of the Royal 
House, would be guilty of going through "mock 
marriages" to deceive and betray the ladies whom 
they loved and whom they wished to make their 
wives'? The idea is too preposterous to be enter- 
tained for an instant. And yet, should we hold the 
so-called Royal Marriage Act to be constitutional, 
mock marriage would be the only explanation of 
the alliances contracted by those royal princes con- 
trary to the provisions of the said Royal Mar- 
riage Act. 

Be it said in all honor to the British Royal 
Family, that the so-called Royal Marriage Act 12 
George III C. II, is unconstitutional and invalid, 
and that Princes of the Royal House were not 
guilty of deceiving the ladies concerned by mock 
marriages. 

The marriage of George IV when Prince of 
Wales, contracted in violation of the provisions 
of the said Royal Marriage Act, was held to be 
valid, both as a contract and as a sacrament, by 
(1) George III, the creator of the Act; (2) by 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 13 

other members of the royal family; (3) by the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Moore, who chal- 
lenged both George III and the Prince of Wales 
in consequence of his convictions; (4) by the Prin- 
cess Caroline, the bigamous wife of George IV; 
(5) by the Houses of Parliament; (6) by the 
Pope, on whose decision the first wife of George 
IV returned to live with him after his separation 
from the Princess Caroliine; (7) by William IV, 
by whose command the widow of George IV wore 
widow's weeds in mourning her late husband; 
(8) by Edward VII, who authorized the publica- 
tion of said marriage on removing the marriage 
certificate and other documents from Coutt's 
Bank. 

That the foregoing is historically true, and that 
the said Sovereigns, including George III him- 
self, the Privy Council and the Legislature, and 
all authorities of the present time, is fully borne 
out in history, as shown in the previous pages of 
this chapter. 

It is fortunate that George IV had no issue by 
his legal wife, and also that she was of the Roman 
Catholic faith, as in the adjustment of the laws, 
such issue would have been the legitimate lineal 
descendants, and in direct line of succession to the 
throne. 

The omission of her late Majesty Queen Vic- 
toria to set aside by legal process the marriage of 
my father and mother contracted in 1860 contrary 
to the provisions of the so-called Royal Marriage 
Act, was a grave error of judgment and is un- 
fortunate for all concerned. It must be stated, 



14 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

however, that, as in the case of George IV, the 
omission was by design and not through ignorance 
of the unconstitutionality of the Royal Marriage 
Act. The effect is the same in both cases in so 
far as the position of the second wife is concerned. 
Evidence is not wanting either in England or 
in Denmark to substantiate the fact. Former 
members of the royal household of the late King 
Christian have testified to having been present at 
animated discussions in 1860 on the proposed mar- 
riage of the then Prince of Wales and the Prin- 
cess Alexandra. The late Prince-Consort strongly 
disapproved of the proposed marriage: 

1. On the ground that the rank of the Prince's 
living Consort was too high, and the exalted sta- 
tion of her family too important to admit of the 
marriage being set aside by regular process of law 
in favor of the Danish Princess without raising a 
storm of public indignation throughout the King- 
dom. 

2. That the issue of the existing marriage be- 
ing a Prince, the position of the children by the 
plural wife, the Princess Alexandra, should the 
Queen persist in carry out this alliance, and should 
there be any offspring from such an alliance, 
would be no better than was that of the Princess 
Caroline (the bigamous wife of George IV.). 

The late King Christian of Denmark, it is said, 
supported the views of the Prince-Consort, and 
was likewise averse to the proposed matrimonial 
alliance between the Prince and His Majesty's 
daughter. 

The autocratic will of the late Queen Victoria, 



Memoirs of Prince John De GuelpJi 15 

which, as is well known, in matters of matrimony 
in the royal family, was more pronounced even 
than that of George III, was brought to bear with 
all the diplomacy of a woman upon Queen Louise 
of Denmark. As is usual in such cases petticoat 
perversity prevailed against the sound judgment 
and wise counsel of the Prince-Consort and the 
King of Denmark and against the divine decree 
of the King of Kings. 

The Prince-Consort, it is said, solemnly warned 
his Royal Spouse that in Albert Edward, Prince 
of Wales, they had not the unstable character as 
exhibited by George IV under similar circum- 
stances, but that they had to deal with a Prince 
and nobleman of dominant will and determined 
character. That His Royal Highness had, in fact, 
positively assured them that he would never deny 
his lawful wife, or their legitimate offspring — the 
Prince John of Wales. 

The parental recognition and protection ac- 
corded to me by my father,* in the face of much 
unpleasantness, has proved that he religiously 
kept his royal word, for at the last fleeting review 
of a spent life he said, "I think I have done my 
duty." 

The juggling with marriage laws for no other 
purpose than that of conniving at the propensity 
of an occasional dissolute royal prig to play ducks 
and drakes with the honor and virtue of the most 
noble, the most virtuous, and the most innocent, 
of Great Britain's fair daughters, is a reason that 



*See complete story in addenda. 



16 Memoirs of Prince John De Giielph 

can not be entertained for a moment ; but the ex- 
istence of the Act is a menace to every innocent 
and unwary lady in the land. 

The existence of the so-called Royal Marriage 
Act of 1772 is an insult to the intelligence of every 
Prince of the Royal House, in that it would reduce 
him to the position of a minor in leading-strings, 
or an imbecile, incapable of exercising his own 
judgment in a matter in which the natural law of 
love is the right and privilege even of the brute 
creation, to say nothing of the right of judgment 
in the choice of life companions being enjoyed by 
the least of the subjects of the realm. 

Thus it is in the vast Empire on which the sun 
never sets, the Sovereign who is credited with in- 
telligence enough to rule over more than one-third 
of the inhabitants of the earth is placed in the 
ludicrous position of being deprived of the two 
fundamental rights which constitute the basic 
principle of our civilization, and enjoyed by his 
five hundred million subjects, the royal princes 
excepted : 

1. The Divine right to choose for himself a 
wife, in accordance with the institution of holy 
matrimony. 

2. The Divine right to worship Almightly God 
according to the dictates of his own conscience. 

By the Statute of William and Mary, or the Bill 
of Eights, the Divine right of man, and the basic 
principle upon which the Christian world is gov- 
erned to-day, the Law of God is made secondary 
to the law of the land. The Heir-Apparent who 
would worship God according to his conscience, if 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 17 

his conscience dictated the observance of the 
Roman Catholic faith, would have to choose be- 
tween God and the crown, with the only alterna- 
tive of committing perjury, by swearing against 
his own conscience. The Sovereign is moreover 
reduced to the farcical position of having to choose 
between his choice of a wife and the crown, should 
his choice happen to be, as was the case of George 
IV, a professor of the Roman Catholic faith. The 
law of the land may thus abuse the most sacred 
rights of man and woman, and encourage apostacy 
and sacriligious acts of professing a change of re- 
ligious views, by leaving one faith, or, what is 
more pertinent, professing to do so for ulterior 
purposes, thus debasing the very first rights of 
our being. 

It is well to bear in mind that while Mr. Glad- 
stone's Religious Disabilities Removal Bill was 
defeated, and the fanatical Act of a bygone age 
is still observed in this twentieth century of re- 
ligious liberty, and that, while the Sovereign and 
Heir- Apparent to the throne with their respective 
wives are prohibited from these most sacred rights 
of man, according to the present system of con- 
stitutional government, it is possible that any 
law, even to the changing of the form of Constitu- 
tional Monarchy, may be enacted by the majority 
of a single vote of a Roman Catholic member of 
either the House of Commons or Lords, and the 
Sovereign thereby deposed by the Catholic ma- 
jority of one! 

The foregoing was written in November, 1909, 
prior to the last general election, the result of 



18 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

which gave the Roman Catholics the balance of 
power in the British Parliament. Hence, the 
statement that the Sovereign, who is barred from 
serving God according to the dictates of his con- 
science, should his conscience dictate the Roman 
Catholic faith, may be deposed by a small majority 
of Roman Catholic members is quite within the 
bounds of possibility, and I am not alone in antici- 
pating the event. 



CHAPTER II 

CASPAR HAUSER REDIVIVUS NOT QUITE 

Nearly forty-eight years before I saw the light 
at Windsor Castle, the Prince of Wales-to-be as 
the first-born son of the first-born son of Vic- 
toria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, the 
Consort of the heir to the Grand Duchy of Baden 
became the mother of a healthy male child at 
Carlshruhe Palace (September 29, 1812). 

Like my own mother, H. R. H. happened to be 
not of the blood royal, but, unlike the great lady 
referred to, my mother belonged to the highest 
aristocracy of the ancient kingdom of Ireland, 
while the Beauharnais were looked upon as 
rather an itinerant lot. That notwithstanding Na- 
poleon deigned to bestow her hand on Prince 
Charles and she was recognized as hereditary 
Grand Duchess by all the great powers and the 
small. Stephany proved to be all that could be 
asked of a ruler's wife. As my grandmother, 
Queen Victoria, favored England with numerous 
princes and pricesses, so the sprightly Napoleonite 
peopled the barren castles of her pretty adopted 
fatherland — only they did not live long. Though 
begot by parents noted for health and vigor, and 

19 



20 Memoirs of Prince John De Gudph 

surrounded by every luxury and care, one and all 
contracted the fatal habit of dying soon after birth 
— a terrible blow to the young mother, but a de- 
cided comfort to the Hochbergs, claimants of the 
Baden throne by a left-handed marriage. 

However, while the offspring done away with 
were girls, the suspicious number of deaths in the 
Grand Ducal nursery was looked upon as a mere 
family affair. But when, on the date mentioned, 
a son was born to H. R. H., the court and diplo- 
mats accredited in Carlsruhe began to regard the 
situation seriously: A son of Napoleon's adopted 
daughter destined for a German crown! 

Napoleon — the air was full of ugly rumors re- 
garding his Russian enterprises just then. "He 
was bound to retreat, his grand army to be cut 
to pieces on the way back to civilization. ' ' Was it 
the beginning of the end so long phophesied? 

At any rate, this semi-French grandson of the 
great Napoleon (fast becoming "Little Nap") — 
was he to thwart the hopes of the German claim- 
ants? 

Even while these portentous questions were dis- 
cussed, stories whispered about palace and town 
intimated that the "White Lady" had been seen at 
the castle — at that period every little burgrave 
commanded one of these conveniences — and dur- 
ing the night from October 15th to 16th the sentinel 
stationed in the corridor leading to Stephany's 
apartments came running to the guard-room, pale 
and atremble, and reported that the historic ghost 
had just stepped from the wall, "all white and 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph ££1 

fearsome-looking," sending him sprawling down 
the stairs. 

This "White Lady" was none other than Coun- 
tess Hochberg, who brought a dying babe to 
Stephany's lying-in chamber, carrying away her 
healthy Prince through a secret door, hidden by 
tapestry. The stolen Prince was turned over to 
one Burkhard, chamberlain, and by him to one 
Hennenhofer, as big a scoundrel as the other, who 
spirited the child away to Falkenhaus, the Hoch- 
bergs' country seat. Next morning, when H. E. H.'s 
attendants awoke from the sleeping draught, 
they found the heir to the Grand Duchy cold and 
stiff, and his death was bulletined accordingly. 
Three days later, by the way, the stolen boy's 
grandfather began his disastrous retreat from 
Moscow. 

Fifteen years passed. Stephany had borne an- 
other son and lost him like the first; two or three 
more daughters had "blessed" her union with 
Charles, and they had joined their sisters. She 
grieved for them as mothers will grieve, but, some- 
how, retained an abundant faith that her oldest 
son was alive. Behold his first public appearance 
in the tallow market at Nuremberg, May 26, 1828, 
a biped, more animal than man, walking on all 
fours, slobbering, whining, pronouncing with dif- 
ficulty a few one-syllable words that sounded more 
like yaps or grunts than product of a human voice. 
For sixteen years this heir of a Grand Duchy had 
expiated for the crime of being a Napoleonite's 
son by solitary confinement in a Hochberg stable, 
goats and sheep his sole companions. 



22 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

The world held its breath and royalty hid its 
head in shame as Caspar Hauser's story gradually 
leaked out. Offers to educate him, restore him to 
his rights ! On April 1, 1830, the reigning Grand 
Duke, Leopold, declared in the state council that 
he would receive Caspar in his family and give 
him one of his daughters for wife. Noble prom- 
ises, fine words — perish the thought of man's in- 
humanity to man! To jail with the dastard who 
hints at royal turpitude, particularly when my 
Lord Stanhope comes forward to be a second 
father to Stephany's son. 

But on December 14, 1833, said Eoyal Prince 
was foully murdered at Ansbach, Bavaria, and 
" Finis" was written under the affair of Grand 
Duchess Stephany and her first-born. 

''Finis" Queen Victoria tried to write under 
the affair of John de Guelph, too, when, on or 
about January 8, 1861, she turned over the new- 
born babe of Albert Edward's Princess-Consort to 
a maid-servant to "bring up in obscurity and ig- 
norance of his rank"; but somehow my grand- 
mother's intentions with regard to the lawful heir 
to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland mis- 
carried, for my foster-mother's sense of duty 
was as pronounced as her rugged honesty was 
aggressive. 

Unlike Caspar, I never suffered an entourage of 
sheep and goats — those useful animals would have 
been quite out of date gamboling attendance upon 
a Prince in the latter half of the nineteenth cen- 
tury — nor were the three R's kept from me as 
State secrets, and I was long past the ag:e allotted 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 23 

to the heir of Baden ere threatened by assassins 
for the first time. 

More's the pity that the royal "Finis" cut 
short the European career of my beloved mother, 
who shared with the Grand Duchess Stephany the 
sad pre-eminence of beauty and a mother's worst 
misfortune— separation from her child. 

The foregoing is ample proof that a crown is 
no protection against man's longings, either physi- 
cal or sentimental, and that, while it's easy enough 
to be the son of a King, for a Prince Royal to be 
labeled differently is easier still. 



CHAPTER III 

MAKRIAGE OF THE FIRST PRINCESS-CONSORT TO 
H. R. H. THE PRINCE OF WALES 

My mother was as great an Irish beauty in her 
teens as ever lived when she renewed acquaint- 
ance with my late father, then Prince of Wales, 
at the Curragh of Kildare, in the second or third 
month of 1860. 

They had previously met at court and at the 
town houses and country seats of relatives and 
friends, with a hundred eyes watching their every 
movement, with listeners galore, for the Prince 
was young and impressionable and Lady Mary fit 
to be a Queen, every inch of her. 

An English Queen come out of Ireland! High 
treason most horrible to even think of such an 
eventuality, for the England of the Normans and 
Plantagenets, of the Houses of Lancaster and of 
York, of the Tudors and Stuarts, had been com- 
mitted to German rule a hundred and forty-five 
years and more, and Queen Victoria would as soon 
have adopted the religion of our earliest claimed 
ancestor, King David, than consider the marriage 
of any of her kith and kin outside her hallowed 
German family circle and connections. 

24 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 25 

As everybody knows, the Curragh is a famous 
military camp southwest of Dublin, and because 
my grandmother had given strict orders that her 
son be treated like any other army officer assigned 
to duty during the manoeuvres, the Prince of 
Wales was accorded such freedom of action as he 
had never known in England. 

For the first time he durst mingle freely with 
congenial persons ; here he was permitted to give 
rein to his native tongue without being reminded 
that German was the language par excellence in 
the highest circles. What a revelation when he 
met Lady Mary unheralded by court marshal and 
without the leading strings of a mistress of the 
robe! 

Ladies invited to the court of England in those 
days had to dress after a certain abominable style 
favored by ultra-German taste. This my father 
hated with a fierce hatred, born of love for the 
picturesque, of contempt for formalism — the 
blooming Irish lass of ducal lineage attired in the 
quaint costume of her native isle became his beau 
ideal. And they loved, these happy young people. 
All the time the Prince could steal from his duties, 
he devoted to the woman of his choice, destined to 
become the mother of his oldest son. 

About Curragh Camp and my father's stay in 
February and March of 1860, I collected much 
interesting material from persons that knew him 
while there, several ladies and gentlemen now de- 
ceased, but before I had time to put the material 
in order or to copy the various papers and docu- 
ments kindly lent, the earthquake and conflagra- 



26 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tion of San Francisco destroyed these never-to- 
be-replaced records, and I durst not trust myself 
to reproduce them from memory. 

I remember having seen a letter from my grand- 
mother, the Queen, to the commanding general, 
thanking him for courtesies extended to the Prince 
of Wales, and expressing hope that my father 
would profit by the experience gone through under 
the eyes of so many distinguished army officers. 
Her Majesty's letter was based, of course, on 
reports made to her, and she knew only what the 
Prince of Wales' official mentor told her. And 
that gentleman said, of course, no more than he 
knew himself, or considered desirable for the 
Queen to have knowledge of, laying particular 
stress on the fact that my father had conducted 
himself throughout in a "most soldierly" manner. 

How it must have hurt the Queen to find, some 
years later, the German press united in declaring 
that the heir to the crown of Great Britain had 
"no notion whatever of military affairs!" It 
was after my father had been created honorary 
colonel of some Prussian Hussar regiment. 

When he went to inspect his troopers, he cut 
short some of the official tomfoolery and masquer- 
ades, which gave grave offense. At the same 
time he refused to don regulation shaft boots, 
such as Abraham Lincoln used to wear, only more 
fancy and set off by silver lace. Instead, he wore 
ordinary walking boots, clothing his lower limbs 
in riding shafts appropriately trimmed. While 
the first transgression was bad enough from the 
German standpoint, the last was rated nothing 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 27 

short of crime, and the papers solemnly avowed 
that a Prince who would not wear jack-boots was 
unfit for a war lord's dignity. 

"The British army is bound to deteriorate if 
H. E. H. becomes King," they cried; "but, of 
course, that will not be Germany's disadvantage," 
added some of the journals slyly. 

Those who appreciate how completely my father 
out-generaled our good cousins and particularly 
my Cousin William I. R. when he came to the 
throne, will smile at the prophecy, but at the time 
of its launching it was no laughing matter. 

No doubt my father joked about it, for his sense 
of the ridiculous was keener than most English- 
men's; but Victoria, ever ready to accept as gos- 
pel truth anything with a German trademark, was 
much distressed, and jack-boots figured in her cor- 
respondence with my father for quite a while. 

To return to the Curragh. The general com- 
manding had seen nothing — whether he closed his 
eyes, or suffered from dull man's blindness, we 
will not investigate now — and my parents enjoyed 
a short season of undisturbed bliss, probably no 
more than a month in duration, though. 

Their marriage took place at Kingstown on or 
about April 1st, and one of the most pretentious 
houses in the town is still pointed out to visitors 
and tourists as the temporary residence of the 
"Prince of Wales and the first Princess-Consort." 
"The Honeymoon House" they call it in popular 
parlance to this day. 

The private wedding and the Kingstown sojourn 
occurred after my father's service at the Curragh 



28 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

had officially terminated, and while he was sup- 
posed to enjoy a furlough with his chum, the Earl 
of Sandwich, who afterward accompanied him to 
the United States. 

Scions of the House of Sandwich have always 
been among the most resourceful, you know — be- 
hold the first that sprang into world-wide notice, 
Lord John, whose profligacy was wont to shock 
my "Dutch" uncle, the third George, the gentle- 
man who "practiced all the virtue he knew," and, 
accordingly, thought himself privileged to com- 
mand the faith, control the thoughts and even the 
hearts of the hundreds of millions subject to him. 
George could not manage his own family; the 
Prince of Wales ignored him when he married 
Mrs. Fitzherbert; his son of York refused to be 
stupefied by the dullness of the courts of Kew and 
Windsor, and decamped ; and the Duke of Cumber- 
land, marrying Mrs. Horton, caused the King to 
promulgate the iniquitous Royal Marriage Act, 
preaching polygamy as do the laws of the Prophet. 

Such being the state of things in the bosom of 
the royal family, it's small wonder that the 
King's frown and his persistent preaching failed 
to reform Lord John, who thought nothing of 
spending night and day without ever moving from 
the gaming table, and, when hungry, ordered a 
piece of meat between bread. In the clubs and 
gambling houses such an impromptu meal became 
known, as we know it to-day, as "sandwich," and 
"Jemmy Twitcher" — nickname for the Earl — 
thought it better fun than people's allusions to 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 29 

Miss Ray, the actress, whom a rival, Reverend 
Hackman, murdered from jealousy. 

Strategy and diplomacy, crystallizations of 
Jemmy's cleverness immortalized in the " Heroic 
Epistle," were the portion of the Earl of Sand- 
wich, my father's chum — qualities that helped to 
smooth the path of the royal lovers and keep 
discovery at a distance for a time at least. But 
there were several in the secret, and they were 
whispering so much of the Prince of Wales' mar- 
ried happiness and the bonny Irish Queen he was 
to seat on the throne of the United Kingdom — 
official Kingstown, withal, was so alive to the honor 
conferred upon her: the " affair" could not be kept 
long from so active a sovereign as was Queen 
Victoria. 



CHAPTER IV 

THE ROYAL FAMILY COUNCIL AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE 

Any one at all acquainted with her late Maj- 
esty's character may imagine the result: The 
mother's outraged feelings, the monarch's fears 
and apprehensions, the beloved German kin's rav- 
ings! A family council was called in all haste 
at Buckingham Palace, my grandfather, Prince 
Albert, presiding. 

The Queen, who had a judicial mind and, above 
all, desired matters of State or semi-State con- 
ducted in proper style, had commanded the Lord 
Chamberlain to submit the points at law. 

The first point raised by his Lordship was to 
the effect that there was possibly no ground for 
apprehension whatever, as the lady, being of Irish 
birth, was, in all probability, a Catholic, which 
eventuality rendered her marriage to a royal Brit- 
ish Prince null and void under the law. 

The Queen could hardly restrain herself from 
interrupting his Lordship's preamble. When he 
was about to begin arguments, she cut him short 
by an imperious gesture. 

" Unfortunately, the marriage of my son does 
not come under that head," she said, "for his 
bride is a Protestant," whereupon the Prince- 
Consort read some official dispatches to that effect. 

30 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 31 

"Your Lordship will proceed," commanded my 
grandmother, without even attempting to hide her 
impatience. 

The Lord Chamberlain drew from another 
pocket of his portfolio the Royal Marriage Act 
(12 George III C. II). After explaining, for the 
benefit of the alien members of the family council, 
that this Act was passed in consequence of the 
marriages with commoners of George Ill's broth- 
ers, the Duke of Cumberland and the Duke of 
Gloucester, his Lordship read the law setting forth 
that no member of the British royal family shall be 
capable of contracting a legal marriage without 
the previous consent of the reigning sovereign, 
signified under the great seal. 

So intense was the Queen's excitement that, for 
once, she forgot her dignity and jumped from her 
chair, and the wish being father to the thought, 
she seems to have considered the Lord Chamber- 
lam's business finished. -We thank vour Lord- 
ship," she said, with a gesture signifying dis- 
missal. -The family council will now go into 
secret session." 

Though understanding that his presence was 
no longer desired, the Chancellor kept his place, 
facing her Majesty. Slowly and deliberately he 
drawled out: "Begging your Majestv's pardon, 
my oath of office binds me to submit' the law in 
lull, to wit: that in case a member of the roval 
family does contract a marriage disapproved by 
the ruler, such marriage, if otherwise legal, will 
become lawful after twelve months' notice to the 



32 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

privy council, except both houses of Parliament 
shall declare disapprobation thereto." 

A dark shadow passed over Queen Victoria's 
face. "As a matter of course," she said, "I am 
familiar with the act quoted, though memory was 
at fault concerning the exact wording. Do I now 
understand that your Lordship quoted the entire 
statute?" 

"At your Majesty's service, in a general way, 
but not as fully as in the written argument 
submitted," replied the Chancellor, handing the 
Queen's secretary a memorandum of half a dozen 
or more pages. "But before I have the honor to 
retire, let me draw your Majesty's attention to 
the paragraph stipulating that the sovereign may 
annul a marriage such as referred to by royal 
proclamation. ' ' 

"Boyal proclamation!" cried Prince Albert; 
"that solves the question." But the Queen made 
him a sign to go no further. Assuming the 
ralis majestatis, she said in her haughtiest tone: 

"We, the sovereign, will announce our will and 
pleasure regarding this matter in due time." 

In the meanwhile the Chancellor had retreated 
to the door. As he bowed himself out, the Queen 
gave a sniff of impatience. 

"My good cousins," she addressed the assem- 
bled royalties, "we thank you for your ready at- 
tendance and bind you by your honor to keep the 
matter brought to your attention a profound 
secret. Not a word of it to any one, least to our 
relatives outside the kingdom." 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 33 

Then, looking straight at the Prince-Consort, 
she added slowly: "We have quite made up our 
mind what to do, but in case of unforeseen emer- 
gencies will be glad to avail ourselves of your 
valued advice." 

Victoria motioned to her secretary, who sounded 
a bell. The big folding-doors were thrown open, 
and the distinguished assembly filed out after 
every one had kissed her Majesty's hand, the Duke 
of Cambridge being the last to withdraw. 

When the Consort, who had attended him to the 
door, stood once more in the sovereign's presence, 
my grandmother said curtly: "We will announce 
our plan in the Queen's closet. Your arm, Prince." 

The imperious manner in which the Queen had 
been pleased to conduct the "council" had se- 
verely tried Prince Albert's patience, for, though 
jealous of her prerogatives, Victoria, as a rule, 
asked the Consort's advice, even if she did not 
intend to follow it. Now that they were alone, 
he expected her to recognize his rights as father 
and husband. The haughty "we" and "our" 
therefore struck him as incongruous with the 
situation. 

Dropping into German, as he was wont to do 
under certain circumstances, he said : "Mein liebes 
Frauchen, don't you think that the father is en- 
titled to be heard as well as the mother?" 

"No sentimentalities, please," replied the 
Queen with threatening emphasis on the last word. 
"The heir to the throne has disgraced himself 
by defying the law of the land. Hence, at this 
moment, I can think of our child only as the Pi 



S4i Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

of Wales, and with kirn the sovereign must deal, 
not the mother. After the boy comes home you 
may give him a thrashing, if you like, but until 
then the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland will 
conduct the affair according to her sovereign will 
and pleasure." 



CHAPTER V 

A RIGHT ROYAL. TIFF — LIVELY SCENE IN THE QUEEN 's 
CLOSET 

The royal couple had entered the Queen's closet. 
''Ladies, I will not require your services until 
an hour before dinner," said the Queen to her 
maids of honor as she seated herself on the sofa. 
She did not ask the Prince to sit down while she 
unfolded her plans. 

"The War Office," she began, "will order the 
Prince of Wales to report for duty without a mo- 
ment's delay. You will attend to this and make it 
plain that any officer, high or low, who fails to 
carry out my orders promptly, will be cashiered. 
The Prince must travel without stop, and his at- 
tendants will be held responsible that he communi- 
cates with no one en route. 

"Arrived in London, he shall be conducted to 
Buckingham Palace, there to await my orders. I 
intend to summon him even before he has time to 
change his traveling dress," added the Queen, 
"and you shall be present at our meeting." 

The last was said in rather a condescending 
tone, which the Consort did not like, but that her 
Majesty had done him the honor not to ignore him 
entirely was enough encouragement for the time. 

35 



36 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

"And what shall be done about Lady Mary?" 
he demanded in an attempt to show his authority. 

The Queen slapped her knee impatiently, as her 
cousin of Weimar, wife of the Prussian King, was 
wont to do when agitated. 

"The sovereign will deal with that young per- 
son, and the sovereign only," replied her Majesty 
in a petulant voice. 

"But may I not inquire the nature of your 
plans, at least?" pleaded the Consort. 

"The Queen resolves as follows," said my 
grandmother, accentuating each word: "An aide 
of the Lord Chancellor, whose name will be sent 
to me presently, will leave for Kingstown to-night, 
bearing letters of a business character to Lady 
Mary's father. I myself will forward a few lines 
to the Duchess by my trusted maid Susan, sug- 
gesting that my servant take charge of Lady Mary 
and conduct her to London and then to Windsor. 
At Windsor she is to remain in the strictest se- 
clusion until after her confinement." 

"You mean to recognize the marriage! What 
about our arrangements with Prince Christian?" 
cried the Consort excitedly. 

"The Queen will act as set forth," replied her 
Majesty coldly — "her mind is made up. The 
young woman is understood to be with child by 
the heir to the throne. It devolves, therefore, 
upon the monarch that the affair comes off de- 
cently and without scandal. Windsor," added her 
Majesty with a complacent smile, "is vast enough 
to hide a hundred State secrets." 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelplv 37 

iX Mein liebes Frauchen, I am sure, will arrange 
everything for the best," said the Prince-Consort, 
who seemed dazed by her Majesty's air of self-suf- 
ficiency, "yet I confess not to fully comprehend 
the line of action your Majesty has resolved 
upon. ' ' 

At this point the Queen's sincere affection for 
her Consort mastered her wish to pose as sover- 
eign even in family affairs. 

"My dear Albert," she said, relenting, "we will 
talk about details after measures to end an intoler- 
able and scandalous situation are under way of 
execution. While you repair to the War Office, 
I will settle things with the Lord Chancellor and 
prepare my letter to the Duchess. When our peo- 
ple are en route for Ireland, we will take advice as 
to the next thing to be done." 

"By the way," she added abruptly, "do not 
fail to instruct your secretary to send the answer 
to Prince Christian's letter, received this morn- 
ing by the ordinary mail. While my trust in the 
Queen's messengers is unshaken, I think it hardly 
advisable to send one to Denmark just now." 

"But, my dear Victoria, if you enjoin the utmost 
secrecy, no matter what the provocation, the 
officer will be in honor bound " 

' ' There you are again, ' ' interrupted the Queen, 
"making confidants of people, taking risks when 
there is not the slightest need. 'German senti- 
mentality run riot,' as one of the papers put it 
recently. ' ' 

"No, no," she went on, observing that her Con- 
sort's face flushed with anger and humiliation, 



38 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

"let ine finish, sir, I command you. Understand,' ' 
she continued in a hard, business-like tone, "that 
suppression of the facts is our only safety. As 
far as I can gather, fully fifty persons have knowl- 
edge of the marriage outside of Lady Mary's 
family, some knowing more, some less, others be- 
ing mere guessers. Our interests demand that 
we placate them, one and all, i.e., pay them for be- 
ing discreet if necessary. Pshaw!" — this with a 
contemptuous shrug of her ample shoulders — "I 
expect to confer a considerable number of titles 
to make their bearers behave like gentlemen. I 
will let down the bars even for authors and jour- 
nalists, if it must be." 

The Queen lowered her voice to a confidential 
whisper. "If we succeed in putting a premium on 
silence, the affair will soon blow over," she said, 
"while to tolerate or encourage gossip about the 
marriage, in any form whatever, would magnify 
Bertie's escapade into a grave affair of State. 
This is my reason for not allowing a Queen's mes- 
senger to go to Denmark. Possibly Christian 
heard some vague reports, and you know him and 
the Princess Louise for astute cross-examiners. If 
from one of our own people they obtained but the 
flimsiest sort of admission, why, their political de- 
mands would become insupportable overnight. 
They would not hesitate a moment to ask us to go 
to war with Prussia and Austria to compel these 
powers to recognize the Protocol." (Her Maj- 
esty referred to the London Protocol of May, 
1852, by which Prince Christian was recognized 
as heir in Denmark, including Schleswig-Holstein, 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 39 

by all the great powers except the Diets of the 
Elbe Duchies.) 

The Prince bent low over his wife's chair and 
carried her hand to his lips. ' ' If Lord Palmerston 
was as clever a politician as my wife," he said 
gallantly, "neither the Eastern question nor the 
Holy Alliance would keep him awake nights." 

"You flatterer," said the Queen, while a broad 
smile of satisfaction stole over her face; "but now 
to work. We have kept the Lord Chancellor's 
aide waiting long enough, and the War Office must 
be getting impatient, as the secretary expected you 
half an hour before this." 



CHAPTER VI 



EAKLY IMPRESSIONS 



If there is in this world a case in which greatly 
wronged innocence was fully sensible of the wrong 
inflicted, and suffered the tortures of cruel injus- 
tice from infancy, mine is that case. In any event, 
I pray God that if others have been subjected to 
similar injustice they may have been spared the 
knowledge of the extent of such injustice. 

From information given to me in childhood and 
which has been corroborated in later life, I was 
committed to the care of a maid, Esther Norman, 
in infancy who was to treat me as her own son, on 
the understanding that I was never to be informed 
of my true parentage. 

This plan, I understand, was adopted by my 
grandmother, the late Queen Victoria, with a view 
to suppress all knowledge of the secret marriage 
of my father and mother and to protect my heart- 
broken mother from being made the subject of 
Court scandal. 

That the outrage thus perpetrated against Eng- 
land's motherhood and against the state and 
nation utterly failed in its diabolical purpose is 
clearly proved. 

40 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 4>1 

In the first place the fact of the marriage of 
my father and mother was known to at least a 
number of persons; and the true love affair be- 
tween the young couple was known throughout the 
Kingdom. Then came the reaction of my grief- 
stricken mother. Her grief over the double separ- 
ation from husband and babe was uncontrollable; 
and, instead of resuming her place at Court, she 
became the object of pity of the nation and more 
particularly in the neighborhood of the castle in 
which she lived. Her only comfort was in being 
alone with her great sorrow ; with Nature and with 
God. Her principal exercise for years, I have 
learned from an eye witness, was walking unat- 
tended in the castle grounds. The daily walks of 
this most beautiful lady naturally attracted at- 
tention and the people gave their sympathy, the 
sympathy of womanhood and of motherhood, to 
the royal lady who was known throughout the 
country as the " first love and bride of the Prince 
of Wales and the mother of the missing Prince 
John." 

Eobbed of her only child, the children of the 
village gave this poor mother much happiness. 
One of those children, now a woman of refined 
tastes, Miss Carmichael (Bonnie), whom I met in 
1904 in San Francisco, California, related to me 
that she and many others had been in the habit of 
going to the castle "to admire the beautiful heart- 
broken lady" upon whom they all looked as "their 
ideal of a lady and a Princess." The lady, whose 
sorrow was known to the children, enjoyed their 
visits and found consolation in their presence. 



458 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Thus it proved that the attempt of the Sovereign 
to destroy the evidence of the love of a wife and 
mother was doomed from the inception of the plot 
to ignominious defeat. The nation knew the 
identity of my father's first love, but in loyalty 
to the Throne respected the wishes of the Sov- 
ereign and of my mother's family in sparing that 
wounded soul as much as possible from public 
gossip. 

It was decreed by the Sovereign that I, the 
issue of the most romantic and, withal, the most 
tragic marriage of the first Prince of England in 
modern times, should be removed as far as possi- 
ble from the environment and influence of the 
royal Court, in order that the characteristics of 
race transmitted to me by my parents might be 
obliterated if possible through confluence from in- 
fancy with influences and environments of an en- 
tirely different character. 

My revered grandmother did not, I believe, 
have a more ardent admirer than myself of the 
wisdom and justice with which she so long ruled 
her vast Empire. My admiration for her, in later 
life, caused me to stifle the bitterness of feeling 
which I entertained toward her in my youth and 
early manhood, for her crime against my saintly 
mother. Her action, however, in making such 
disposition of an innocent infant as above stated, 
is one thing in her life that will remain with me 
to the day of my death as an illustration of the 
weakness of the sex. When actuated by jealousy, 
anger or desire for vengeance her good judgment 
forsakes her; discretion, logic and reason give 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 43 

place to blind impulse sometimes dangerously 
near insanity. The injustice committed against 
me is not the matter to which I have reference; 
it is the outrage of which my grandmother was 
guilty against her own intelligence which I can 
not forget. 

In her normal condition the Queen-mother would 
not have been guilty of committing such an in- 
human crime against her son and his bride and 
their innocent child, much less would she have 
been guilty of anything so illogical as to sup- 
pose for a moment that the identity of the infant 
Prince of the House of Guelph could be obliterated 
by placing him in humble surroundings and call- 
ing him a laborer. As well might she have taken 
the foal of an Arabian thoroughbred and placed 
it on a farm and called it a cart-horse. The high 
pedigree of the racer would be the more striking 
by contrast. 

The confusion of mind under which my grand- 
mother acted in order to enforce ultimate obedi- 
ence to her own plans relative to the matrimonial 
disposition of my father becomes more pronounc- 
ed when the irregularity which marked the separa- 
tion of my mother from her royal husband is con- 
sidered. I am reliably informed that in order to 
suppress from the public the knowledge of the fact 
of the marriage of my parents, she omitted to issue 
a royal proclamation or to take the necessary legal 
action to annul their marriage. The attempt to 
thus "hush up" a legal ceremony has led to polit- 
ical complications now that the question has 
arisen concerning direct legitimate lineal succes- 



44 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

sion to the throne. But upon that subject the writer 
has nothing to say, my only motive in alluding to 
the matter, as brought to my attention, being to 
show that my grandmother did not act with her 
usual good judgment in having disposed of my 
mother and myself in the manner in which she did. 

Having been placed with a foster mother as 
an infant my memory does not serve to give the 
exact date. Esther Norman was commanded to 
have me baptised in the name of John, for the rea- 
son as I was informed in 1874, that the name 
of John in England was at that time distasteful to 
the Royal Family because of King John I, who 
signed the Magna Charta which gave to the people 
some liberty of conscience and a voice in the gov- 
ernment of the realm. To the Imperialists this was 
an unpardonable offense. 

It was, therefore, decreed by the autocracy that 
no other John should reign over Great Britain 
and Ireland lest a little more freedom should be 
given to the people. 

The Royal Command to my foster-mother was 
not obeyed. In 1874, Esther Norman informed 
me that she had not carried out instructions given 
in reference to my baptism; that I had not 
in fact been christened at all, for the reason, as 
she stated, that, while she had consented to repre- 
sent herself as being my mother, her conscience 
would not allow her to bear false witness in this 
respect in the Church and before God in a re- 
ligious sacrament of such importance as the bap- 
tism of the first-born son of the heir apparent to 
the Throne of England. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 45 

I was, therefore, in the ridiculous position of 
having been confirmed by the Bishop of Lichfield, 
in the Cathedral of that city, 1874, without having 
been previously baptised, a fact which I only dis- 
covered subsequent to my confirmation. 

As an infant I was placed with a nurse in Ton- 
bridge, Kent, one Mrs. Nutley. My career was 
nearly brought to an abrupt and violent end be- 
fore I could either walk or talk. A nurse girl, 
since married, named Mrs. Emma R. Curd, in 
company with some other tomboys of the neigh- 
borhood, climbed upon the railway wall near the 
Tonbridge station to watch the workmen employed 
on construction. 

From the top of the wall to the tracks below is 
something like twelve feet or more ; for some un- 
explained reason I was placed upon the wall and 
carelessly dropped by the nurse onto the tracks 
below. I sustained serious injuries from the fall, 
my head being injured by coming in contact with 
the rail, and by receiving a blow from the pick 
of a workman, who had it raised at the moment 
of my fall upon that spot. 

The man, I was told, tried to prevent the pick 
from striking me, but his surprise was so great 
at my appearance there that he dropped the pick 
sidewise upon my head. In after years I was in- 
foKmed that I was taken up for dead, and that it 
was later thought for many weeks that I could not 
recover. 

On the occasion of my last visit to London, a 
refugee from the San Francisco earthquake and 
fire, in 1906, I took occasion to hunt up the nurse, 



46 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

Emma Curd. I found her still residing in the town 
of Tonbridge; her address at the time was 18 
Priory Koad, where I believe she is still living. 
Not having seen me for about forty years and hav- 
ing been informed that I had died many years ago, 
she was greatly shocked when I inquired if she 
remembered Johnny "Nutley" whom she had 
nursed as an infant. 

Throwing up her hands she exclaimed: "Do I 
remember! Can I ever forget as long as I live 
how I dropped him from the top of the railway 
wall under the workman's pick, and we thought 
he was killed." 

I then requested her to place her hand in the 
depression in my skull caused by that accident, 
which more than convinced her that I was the 
child whom she came so near to killing. Mrs. 
Curd can verify the above statement and furnish 
more particulars relating to that accident than I 
can give. 

In 1907 I also traced the daughter of my old 

nurse, Emily Nutley — now Mrs. who also 

remembers the above accident. She remembered 
me very well and related many incidents of my 
childhood. She informed me that her mother had 
died four years previously, about 1903. She had 
also heard that I had been dead for many years. 

The first act in my life of which I was told, is 
the first evidence I have to introduce to show that 
the plan to eradicate the traits and characteris- 
tics of race and parentage by change of environ- 
ment was doomed to failure. The incident oc- 
curred in Kent, the County Seat of my parental 



'Memoirs of Prince John 'De Guelph 47 

great grandmother, the Duchess of Kent. My age 
at the time can be ascertained by inference ; I do 
not remember it. My foster-mother had just ar- 
rived from London ; I was on the floor. With all 
the instinct of motherhood at her command, she 
approached me with outstretched arms and ma- 
ternal solicitude for the purpose of taking me in 
her arms. ' ' Come to mamma, baby, come to mam- 
ma!" resulted in such a manifestation of out- 
raged dignity that they who witnessed it repeat- 
edly reminded me of it for many years. I stormed 
at her as only injured innocence can storm. Every 
spark of energy in my being was brought into 
operation in violent protest against the claim to 
maternal relationship. Finally, rather than sub- 
mit to dishonorable surrender I entrenched myself 
under a large arm chair and continued an unin- 
terrupted fire of shrapnel, "not mamma, not mam- 
ma!" until the false position of motherhood was 
no longer tenable. 

Had it not been for the fact, as above stated, 
that this incident was frequently related to me in 
following years I would in all probability have had 
no recollection of my first actual battle to protect 
my individuality. 

It was the above incident which later led to my 
being informed of my parentage. The experience 
disconcerted my foster-mother and caused her to 
reflect upon her position and my possible future. 
Indeed, I have reason to believe that the denial of 
her claim of maternal relationship to me, from the 
lips of an innocent and much wronged infant, was 
largely responsible for the impressive lessons 



48 'Memoirs of Prince John Dc Guelph 

which I received from her during my childhood 
and early youth and which have been my inspira- 
tion in the carrying out of all my objects and 
purposes in life. 






CHAPTER VII 

EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS. I SNUB MY GRANDMOTHER 
THE QUEEN — I DECLARE A HOLY WAR 

I have now to relate the first incident of which 
I have actual recollection in my life. 

Here I am again face to face with the experi- 
ences of my childhood, of my youth, of my life — a 
horrid nightmare of mental anguish and torture of 
my soul, which seems as though it would cause my 
heart to break, and convulses my very manhood 
with emotion that will not be silenced. 

I would to God that I had not been born, or, 
that having been born-, that my life had been mer- 
cifully destroyed ere I saw the light of day. The 
people of England can- not conceive of the anguish 
of my soul. I have passed through the temples 
and pagodas in India and have actually envied 
the lepers their lot as they sat begging on the 
steps of the sacred shrine. I have bathed and 
dressed the leprous sores and mutilated limbs 
from which toes had been eaten away by that most 
loathsome of diseases, and have wished the while 
that I could have changed places with one of them, 
until checked by the selfishness of the thought, as 
I would not willingly see a pariah dog endure the 

49 



50 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

life that had fallen to my lot. My duty to God 
and to humanity demands the suppression of the 
emotions and of sentiment. I must go on. 

The spirit of England's outraged motherhood, 
and the spirit of tortured innocence for forty- 
nine years stifled by the agonizing grief of broken 
hearts burst the bonds of injustice with the cry 

Dieu et mon droit 

and 

May God Defend the Right 

As I look across the broad expanse of the Atlan- 
tic Ocean and see the Royal Standard floating to 
the breeze from the tower of Buckingham Palace 
and flashing in the sunlight the royal motto of the 
Sovereign, and of Englands greatness, I can not 
but reiterate the prayer, 

May God Defend the Right. 

And, yet, again, as conveyed in an anniversary 
greeting to my father; that the prayer of the son 
might be the prayer of the father to mingle at the 
throne of the King of Kings : 

"Give the King Thy judgment, God, and Thy 
righteousness to the King's son; He shall judge 
Thy people with righteousness and Thy poor with 
judgment." 

The voice of the people is the voice of God. Let 
the people of my beloved England and Ireland, of 
Scotland and Wales, of the British Colonies and 
Dominions, the people of long-suffering India, the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 51 

land in which I spent so many years of my volun- 
tary exile that I might be permitted to emancipate 
them from the horrors of famine and pestilence, 
the people of Europe, and of America, the great 
republic of the United States under the courteous 
protection of which I have sought seclusion and 
peace, if that be possible, from the relentless grief 
of my mother's and my own secret sorrow, read 
the narrative of my life, of my experiences, and 
of my unutterable sufferings, the faint tracing of 
which may be seen in crimson stains between the 
lines of these pages. 

Let the whole world read and suspend its 
judgment until after mature deliberation as to 
whether it is possible that the fruits of my life's 
work are calculated to promote the cause of uni- 
versal peace and of prosperity. If that be the 
verdict of the people, what I have to give, I am 
prepared to give freely. I ask no reward, I covet 
no honor, my motive in life is, as explained, for 
God and humanity. 

The experiences which I am about to relate are 
responsible for the course which I have pursued 
in life ; without the inspiration which impelled me 
to further action I could not have lived and, in 
spite of all inspiration, the yearning of my soul 
to bring honor to my mother, and the motive 
which prompted me to serve suffering humanity, 
no man ever courted death so long and so earn- 
estly as did the subject of this biography. 

The memory of the first incident has recurred 
to me many million times in the past forty-four or 
forty-five years, but never has the prophetic sig- 



52 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

nificance of divine retribution attached to it ever 
occurred to me with the force with which it is now 
impressed upon me. Let the reader bear in mind 
that the incident referred to was the first experi- 
ence in my life of which I have any absolute recol- 
lection. 

The town of Tonbridge was one day en fete 
about the year 1864-5 (the date can be deter- 
mined and the story verified by investigation) the 
royal train in which Her Most Gracious Majesty 
Queen Victoria was traveling was to stop at Ton- 
bridge station. The town's people, young and old, 
in gala attire, turned out en masse in evidence of 
their loyalty. There was great excitement in the 
family of my old nurse, as indeed there was 
throughout the town. 

I was about three or four years of age at the 
time. My old nurse, who had carefully prepared 
my best frock and other articles of my juvenile 
wardrobe, called me to be washed and dressed to 
"go to see the great lady, the Queen, who lives 
in the big palace in London." Then came the 
startling revelation which pierced the heart of the 
child through and through, the revelation which 
has caused me more anguish of heart than any- 
thing and everything else in life. ' ' The great lady, 
the Queen, is Johnny's grandma. "Poor Johnny 
can't live in the big palace in London like grand- 
ma." Childish questions elicited the information 
that "Johnny's grandma is the Queen of Eng- 
land"; that "Grandma does not love Johnny's 
mamma"-; "Johnny's grandma was very angry 
with Johnny's mamma and papa and would not let 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 53 

mamma live in the palace"; and that "Grandma 
sent Johnny away from the palace and from his 
papa and mamma to live with nurse. ' ' 

My nurse was surprised at the effect produced 
by her story upon my young mind. She had 
thought that I would have been pleased to go to 
the station to see ' ' the great lady, "my" grandma, 
the Queen." I pondered over the disclosure made 
to me which made a deep impression upon me. I 
refused to go to see the Queen. She had been angry 
and cruel to my mamma. She had sent my mamma 
away from the big palace in London. She had 
taken me from my poor mamma, and had sent me 
to that place so that my mamma should not find 
me. I did not cry. I did not make a scene. I 
decided that I did not love my grandma, and 
walked into the street that I might be alone with 
my first great grief which has never been lifted 
from my weary soul in all my wanderings. 

The populace began to throng to the station 
hours before the time for the arrival of the royal 
train. The houses in the street in which I lived 
were soon deserted, and the throngs of people 
passing down the street from outlying districts 
diminished until only stragglers passed by. At 
this stage I became the center of public interest. 
Many ladies expressed surprise at my having been 
left unattended; and many stopped to speak to 
me about the "great lady, the Queen"; and not a 
few endeavored to persuade me to go with them 
to see the Queen, feeling that I ought not to bo 
left alone on the street, promising to take care of 
me and to bring me back safely to "mamma." 



54> Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

How many times in life have I recalled those 
terrible hours and thought of the solicitude of 
those good people, and wondered what they would 
have thought could I but have told them the pain 
that their kindness and sympathy caused me. 
How the oft-repeated question of "Where is your 
mamma ? ' ' stabbed my young heart until my grief 
became unendurable. Finally I was alone, except 
for the vast concourse of people which I could see 
in the distance and the hum of thousands of voices 
faintly heard. 

I was alone. The multitude might have been off 
the earth, and I in the lonely wastes of a vast 
desert. The solitude and desolation that over- 
whelmed my childish heart is beyond the power 
of expression in cold hard-steel type, beyond the 
power of expression in words of the most sympa- 
thetic soul that ever breathed, beyond the power 
of expression in the heart-broken sobs by which 
I am convulsed at the recollection of that agoniz- 
ing experience after the lapse of over twoscore 
years. By the language of silence — the cry of the 
soul to the Almighty Father alone can expression 
be given to the great and terrible grief wrought 
by that awful experience — and the Almighty Fath- 
er alone can conceive of the enormity of the suf- 
fering of my soul at that hour, and through the 
long secret sorrow of my life. 

The foregoing incident awakened within my 
childish heart a sense of righteous indignation 
which changed the innocent child of four years 
into a being of more mature age. The problem of 
my life weighed heavily upon me, and serious 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 55 

thoughts of the ways and means whereby I could 
right the wrongs of my mamma, were she still 
alive, took the place of play. I went every day to 
the churchyard a short distance from the house 
in which I lived, and spent much time under the 
shadow of the church and in walking among the 
graves. I felt that the church was the House of 
God ; that God was my heavenly Father ; and that 
my one great need was a Father's love and a 
Father's protecting care. The graves represented 
to me the resting place of the bodies of the people 
who had died and gone to heaven ; and I thought 
that God was there and watched over the graves. 
In short, the churchyard was to me as holy ground 
in which I could walk and talk with God, my 
Father. I used to ask God to bring my mamma to 
me; then, as time passed and she did not come, I 
thought that she must have died and gone to 
heaven; so I asked God many times every day to 
take me to my mamma. I spent much time in 
searching for her grave in that city of the dead, 
that I might lie down upon it and die that I could 
be with her, for life without her was too terrible 
to me after I had heard that my grandmamma 
had sent her away from the big palace in London. 
I thought of her as being very unhappy, if she was 
alive, and that she was always crying for me. 

After many weeks of vain search for my 
mother's grave I concluded that she was not dead. 
I did not think that God would let her die far away 
from me, but that He would bring her there if she 
died. I felt that God called to me to avenge my 
mother's wrong. I felt that I must go out into the 



56 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

world, to the big city of London to find her, to fight 
for her and to make her happy. I would go to the 
big palace and see my grandmamma, and make her 
tell me where to find my mamma ; and, if she would 
not tell me I would blow up her big palace and 
everybody in it. 

I nursed my childish grief alone, for there was 
no friend to share it with me. The world had been 
cruel to me and to my mother and I resolved that 
I would submit to no more injustice with impunity, 
but that I would fight for my mamma that she 
might be taken back to the big palace where she 
belonged, as I had been told. I did not mind being 
punished when I was disobedient, but to submit to 
unjust punishment only to be kept from my mam- 
ma was another matter. 

I had not long to wait for an opportunity to put 
my childish resolution into execution. My old 
nurse frequently found errands for me to do, 
which made me late in my attendance at the public 
school. The master had reprimanded me a num- 
ber of times for my want of punctuality, notwith- 
standing that my nurse was responsible for my 
irregular attendance. One afternoon I went to 
school some fifteen minutes late, taking with me 
the usual note of "excuse"; on presenting it to 
the master he threw it away and said he would 
make an example of me; I should receive twelve 
lashes of the cane, six in each hand. I was made 
to stand for some time before the class as an ex- 
ample and in anticipation of punishment. I took 
the thrashing philosophically; but when it was 
over I decided to put my resolution to avenge my 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 57 

wrongs into practice. A few seconds after the 
punishment had been inflicted, my nurse came into 
the school hoping to save me from such unjust 
treatment ; a loyal friend had run from the school 
to apprise her of my plight. I was taken home by 
the nurse, who dressed my welted hands. That 
done, I begged permission to go out, a request that 
was granted under the circumstances. I lost no 
time in arranging my plans to avenge this latest 
outrage on innocent childhood ; I was at that time 
still in frocks. I went to the room of a son of the 
house, whom I knew had a gun and sometimes went 
shooting. In a drawer I found a flask of powder, 
which I promptly appropriated. My plan of at- 
tack having been decided upon, I proceeded to 
carry it out. I went to the school yard, and having 
located the position occupied by the master's desk, 
which was near the wall in the centre of the build- 
ing, I dug a hole in the ground to the depth of two 
bricks with an old knife brought for the purpose. 
I then charged my mine with the powder from the 
flask, set the fuse which I had prepared from darn- 
ing cotton, and filled in the mine with the earth 
previously removed. I then waited to hear the 
master's voice from his desk; the moment came at 
last ; I fired the mine by setting a light to the fuse, 
and took shelter in the gateway across the square, 
waiting patiently to see the school blow up, my 
thoughts being busy in the meantime planning a 
similar fate for the big palace in London. 

After what seemed an hour, the mine exploded 
with a sh — sort of sound, gravel, dust, and smoke 
went up in the air, but much to my disgust the ex- 



58 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

plosion had failed in its purpose — the schaol still 
stood as ugly as ever. 

The dismal failure of my well-conceived plan to 
begin a holy war against those who had been guilty 
of gross injustice to my dear mamma and myself 
led me to the conclusion that I was not quite big 
enough to carry out such a campaign by myself. 
Profiting by my experience, I assumed the role of 
leader among the boys, organized my army corps, 
and thus acquired my first training as a field- 
marshal. 

The next incident within my recollection and 
which created great excitement among the women 
present, occurred when I was about five years of 
age. Two ladies came down from London to see 
me. On the way from the railway station to the 
house of my nurse they saw a number of children 
playing soldiers; they had no difficulty in recog- 
nizing in the youthful commander of the party 
storming the citadel, the child whom they had come 
to see, although neither of them had seen me 
before. 

Upon their arrival at the nurse's home, I was 
sent for to be presented to the ladies. On entering 
the house I firmly refused to meet the ladies until 
I had been made presentable by the removal of all 
the traces of my recent military expedition. My 
shoes had to be cleaned, face and hands washed, 
hair curled, and my robes of state donned in honor 
of my fair guests. I had not seen the ladies, and 
wondered if it were possible that my mamma was 
one of the party. I was anxious to find out, but 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 59 

etiquette demanded of a gentleman that he must 
be properly groomed to receive company. 

My action in this matter caused considerable 
comment, which was continued for some years. 
Being so particular in the matter ozone's toilet 
was "an unmistakable mark of high birth." 
"Blood will tell," I well remember having heard 
repeatedly in the discussions over such trifling in- 
cidents of my childhood. "They may place the 
children of royalty and nobility out to nurse, but 
they can't rob the innocent babes of the blue blood 
in their veins and of their high-bred manners." 
"You can't make a commoner out of a child who 
was born a prince." 



CHAPTER Vni 

A PATHETIC MEETING FBTJITS OF SCARLET SIN OP 

EOYAL COURT VISITED ON SECOND AND THIRD 

GENERATIONS — WHY KING SOLOMON 

WAS FAVORED BY GOD 

When about five years of age I was removed 
from Tonbridge to Snodland, Kent, where I was 
placed with a married sister of my foster-mother, 
a Mrs. William Diprose. It was while living with 
this family that my foster-mother took me to Mail- 
ing for the ostensible purpose of paying a visit to 
"a lady friend," but whom I discovered was my 
own mother. "Her friend," she said, had ex- 
pressed a desire to see John, and that she wished 
me to accompany her when making the call. Un- 
usual care was bestowed upon my toilet before set- 
ting out for our destination. When en route my 
foster-mother appeared to be nervous and excited ; 
she frequently readjusted my collar and groomed 
me down. On arrival at the house at which her 
friend was calling, the final touch was given to my 
toilet; we were then shown up to the drawing- 
room. I had expected that my foster-mother would 
have entered the drawing-room to greet her lady 
friend and then to have introduced me ; instead of 

60 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 61 

which she placed me in front of her, laying her 
two hands against my arms, gently pushed me for- 
ward into the drawing-room, remaining meanwhile 
in the doorway. A number of ladies who had 
risen from their chairs as I entered the room, 
stood seemingly at a loss as to what to do. One 
lady who had approached the door as I entered 
placed her hand on my arm and greeted me in a 
kindly manner, to which I responded quietly. My 
attention was on the ladies further in the room. 
My gaze scanned the face of each lady from left 
to right of the room until in the center of the 
party my eyes looked for a second into the eyes of 
a lady, eyes which spoke to mine as the eyes of a 
tender, long-suffering love only can speak. Simul- 
taneously each bounded toward the other, drawn 
by the irresistible law of love. In the center of the 
drawing-room my mother lifted me up in her arms 
and embraced me as I was never embraced before 
or since. The memory of my mother's heart- 
breaking sobs is too sacred to admit of publication 
to an unsympathetic public. I offer no apology 
for drawing the curtain upon what was at once 
the happiest and the most bitter moment of my 
life. I refer to it only to record the deep effect 
which the bitter anguish of my mother 's heart pro- 
duced upon me; and that the world may have at 
least some conception of the great grief of my 
much wronged mother. 

While my mother was holding me tightly to her 
bosom, in a paroxysm of grief, I was greatly dis- 
tressed at the evident anguish and bitterness of 
her soul. 



62 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

One of the ladies present eventually came quietly 
forward and placing her arms about my mother 
endeavored to console her. With a last shower of 
kisses sealed with tears of a broken heart my 
mother put me down. I stood for a moment as she 
was led to a chair. I then said, ' ' Good-bye. ' ' Bow- 
ing myself out of the room, I resolved, as I was 
leaving, that I would never pain her again with my 
presence, until I had avenged her wrongs, by the 
achievement of some great work, through my own 
personal effort, for the good of the nation, in rec- 
ognition of which my country would be bound to 
honour her, as is her right before God and man. 

At that early age my life was full of sorrow, I 
had been subjected to unkind treatment from the 
time of my birth, as I understand that I was taken 
from my mother very shortly after I first saw the 
light. I was certainly subjected to unkind treat- 
ment from the time I can remember up to the time 
of my removal. My soul yearned for my mother, 
for a mother's love and a mother's care. The af- 
fection bestowed upon other children by their par- 
ents tended to make my life the more lonely. 

I know of nothing in life that produces in all the 
intensity of which it is possible to conceive the an- 
guish and bitterness of heart which may be de- 
scribed as an aching void, as the loss of a 
mother's love and a father's care, under circum- 
stances such as those by which I lost my parents, 
unless, indeed, it be the grief of a distracted 
mother robbed of her child. Under natural con- 
ditions or causes such as the removal of parents 
or children by death we become reconciled to the 






Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 63 

loss, knowing that our loss is their gain, and do 
not suffer as keenly through such bereavement as 
when the thought is constantly before the mind 
that mother and father have been cruelly separ- 
ated from each other and from their innocent and 
helpless infant under the most distressing cir- 
cumstances ; and, that that mother is grieving as 
only a mother can grieve under the burden of such 
a terrible and unjust fate ; and, that a barbarous 
custom of royalty renders the father helpless to 
protect either one of his loved ones,— the so- 
called royal custom of morganatic marriage— the 
scarlet sin of royal courts and the plague-spot of 
the Christian world in this twentieth century of 
boasted civilization and hypocritical profession 
of Christianity. A so-called law which presumes 
to make null and void the law of Almighty God in 
the divine institution of holy matrimony when 
solemnized without the sanction of the earthly 
sovereign. 

When it is remembered that in lands called 
"heathen," the "ignorant," "superstitious," and 
"barbarous" people whom we unjustly condemn 
as being ignorant of the true God and true relig- 
ion (such is our own misconception of God and 
religion), treat all matters relating to private life 
with a reverence and sanctity that reduces the 
standard of life in Christian nations below the 
lowest of the brute creation in comparison. Let 
the reader put himself or herself in the place of 
the writer, not that I would have them experience 
the torture of heart and mind endured by me for 
forty-nine years, but to take a sweeping sketch of 



64 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

an infinitesimal portion of the multitude of the 
trials, sorrows, and experiences of that period; 
and then, dear reader, imagine, if you can, what it 
must have been to have had this horrible living 
picture of a greatly wronged mother constantly 
before the mind for over forty years. 

Let us visit for a brief space the continent of 
Asia, the land from which the first dawn of civili- 
zation broke upon us. It is well known that among 
the peoples of that continent a plurality of wives 
has been the custom from the most ancient time. 
The children of kings by plural wives are treated 
as royal princes, and in every way enjoy the 
rights and privileges appertaining to birthright. 
The same thing is true of the offspring of all 
classes of people. Not only are the children of 
plural wives thus sacredly honoured and pro- 
tected, but the same is true of the natural off- 
spring of concubines or mistresses; and why 
should it not be so? Shall the law of God be set 
at naught by an adulterous and hypocritical 
twentieth century Christian community by shirk- 
ing the responsibility of parentage, and laying 
claim to virtues which it does not possess? 

Let us recall to mind the published statement 
by which it was said that the late Queen Victoria 
traced the genealogy of the Royal Family of 
England to the House of David. Without com- 
menting upon the private life, or, in modern 
phraseology, the morality of King David, it may 
not be out of place to remember that the lineal de- 
scendant of that King who succeeded to the 
throne, and whom God abundantly blessed with 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 65 

wisdom, wealth and power far transcending the 
glory of any other monarch in history, enjoyed the 
happiness of having three hundred wives and 
seven hundred concubines, not to speak of the 
Queen of Sheba and other beauties not included 
in the royal household. It is significant that the 
biblical historian in writing the inspired word of 
God did not hesitate to record without comment 
or qualification the fact that the number of King 
Solomon's concubines was two and one-third times 
greater than the number of his wives. Evidently 
no disgrace in the sight of God that King Solomon 
had seven hundred concubines in addition to his 
three hundred wives. The reason that King Solo- 
mon thus enjoyed God's favor was because he was 
not guilty of the crime of repudiating his wives or 
of casting off his offspring. 

If the geneaology of the present reigning dy- 
nasty of Abyssinia is to be accepted, Emperor 
Menelick is the direct descendant of King Solomon 
and the Queen of Sheba. The Emperor of Abys- 
sinia is not, therefore, so far removed in relation- 
ship with the British royal family as the latter 
is removed from the moral and sacred responsi- 
bility of parentage to legitimate offspring, when 
such offspring is the issue of a marriage con- 
tracted by a royal prince contrary to the whim or 
fancy of the reigning sovereign. The moral re- 
sponsibility of parentage, whether the offspring 
be by plural wives or concubines is still religiously 
observed in other branches of our family, branches 
not yet corrupted by the influences of modern 
civilization and idolatry. The idol of self-right- 



66 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

eousness attributed by the Lord Jesus Christ to 
the Scribes and Pharisees has been so perfected 
by the embellishments of modern social etiquette 
and a false conventionality that the first century 
hypocrisy so condemned by Jesus Christ becomes 
devout piety in this twentieth century. 

"We will now examine briefly the modern genea- 
logical history of the House of Guelph. 

King William I, more generally known as Will- 
iam the Conqueror, it is recorded is the progeni- 
tor of the Royal Family of Great Britain, for the 
reason that the Norman invader, having been pro- 
claimed King after the conquest of England, be- 
came the first sovereign of the Norman line; but, 
presumably, for the more convenient reason that 
King William I, the progenitor of the British 
Royal Family, was the natural son of Robert II, 
Duke of Normandy, by Herleva, a tanner's 
daughter. 

The fact that the Conqueror was the illegitimate 
offspring of a foreign nobleman is somewhat awk- 
ward to record in plain English, but is most grace- 
fully presented in the symbols of heraldry. It is 
worthy of note that the illegitimacy of William 
I of England and the fact that his mother was of 
plebian birth did not debar him from the rights 
of recognition as a nobleman, from the rights of 
conquest, or from being proclaimed the King of 
England. 

My mother's ancestors, who came in the train 
of William the Conqueror, were of equally noble 
lineage as that of the Conqueror's father, and had 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 67 

no such record of illegitimacy as in the case of 
their Royal Commander. 

The history of England is blurred by the record 
of bloody crimes against members of the Royal 
Family, and by the shadow of still darker deeds 
recorded only in the "Great Book" of the King 
of Kings. 

The crimes of Henry VIII in disposing of his 
wives by divorce and by execution were acts ol 
justice and mercy when considered in the light of 
the inhuman treatment meted out to my dear 
mother, who was torn from the arms of her hus- 
band without cause and without any pretense of 
legal process'. The only effort made was to sup- 
press the knowledge of her marriage from the 
public. 

The various consorts of King Henry VIII were 
at least accorded the honor due to their high sta- 
tion while it lasted ; and they were finally removed 
by some show of legal formality; their children 
were, moreover, recognized as princes of the 
blood royal, and were decorated accordingly with 
princely honours. 

In the case of Henry VIII it must have been ap- 
parent that the disposition made by him of his 
first and second consorts revealed the true charac- 
ter of the man, and that each succeeded consort 
went to her fate with her eyes more widely open to 
the probability of her doom than her predecessor 
had done. 

Let my readers now consider for a moment the 
case of my own father, who, as it is well known, 
loved and loved deeply and truly the first and 



68 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

only bride of his choice. That that love was a 
sacred and undying love in the heart of the young 
prince is known by those who read the handwrit- 
ing on the wall, described by the late Prince Con- 
sort as "a trying time for the Royal Family at 
home" in the summer of 1860, when the Prince of 
Wales was sent to Canada ; and by those who have 
knowledge of the domestic infelicity which marked 
the Royal Household from the year 1863. 

That that first love, the cruel wrecking of which 
wrecked the life of my father, was recipro- 
cated by the bride of his choice, was generally 
known to the older generation and to their own 
generation throughout the United Kingdom and 
Europe. Public sympathy has been with the 
greatly wronged Princess Consort in her unceas- 
ing bitterness of life during the past forty-nine 
years of her voluntary exile. 

In justice to the United Kingdom of Great Brit- 
ain and Ireland and to the honor of the Empire, I 
am happy to record that the barbarous morganatic 
marriage custom, which applies to some countries 
on the continent of Europe, does not apply to the 
Royal Family of England. 

There is, therefore, no reason why the people 
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, and of the possessions beyond the seas 
should countenance or tolerate the practice of 
bigamy or the repudiation of lawful wives and the 
disfranchisement or disinheritance of legitimate 
offspring by Princes or by Sovereign of the Brit- 
ish Empire, a practice which is not only repugnant 
to the tenets of the Christian Faith, of which the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 69 

Sovereign is the "Defender," and revolting to 
every moral sentiment, but which is abhorred as a 
barbarous and inhuman custom by the vast ma- 
jority of the subjects of the great British Empire, 
whom a self-righteous and bigoted Christian com- 
munity are pleased to term "heathen," — our loyal 
and faithful subjects of the Empire of India ! 

What shall we say of the Christians of the Brit- 
ish Empire if they longer countenance or tolerate 
the scarlet sin of royal polygamy by princes of the 
Reigning House, a sin which is abhorred by their 
three hundred million fellow subjects, — Moham- 
medan, Buddhist, Hindu and Zoroastrian? 

What shall we say of the Christians of the Brit- 
ish Empire if they fail to demand justice for the 
disfranchised eldest legitimate son and heir of 
their late Sovereign, His Majesty King Ed- 
ward VII, the Prince John Eex et Imperator de 
jure? 



CHAPTER IX 

A SERIES OP AMUSING AND PAINFUL INCIDENTS — 
I REMOVE TO LICHFIELD, STAFFORDSHIRE 

After about a year in Snodland, I was again 
returned to the tender care of Mrs. Nutley, in 
Tonbridge, where I remained until I was about 
eight years of age. 

It was during my second residence in Ton- 
bridge that I was once more reported dead. I had 
gone in company with another boy to a pond 
called Osborn's Pit. An attempt to wade through 
eighteen feet of water proving futile, my com- 
panion waited until he saw me disappear below 
the surface of the water and then ran away and 
reported me drowned. A searching party went out 
and dragged the pit from about 12 o'clock noon 
until the next morning ; Mrs. Nutley, her two sons, 
William and David, and her daughter Emily with 
Emma Curd returned home about 3.30 A. M. Mrs. 
Nutley came into my bedroom wailing frantically 
and threw herself upon her knees by my bed, cry- 
ing out, "What will become of me! My poor 
Johnny, the dear child, is dead." 

The girls came into the bedroom to take Mrs. 
Nutley away when the trio screamed in chorus — 
"Why there is Johnny in bed." 

70 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 71 

She eventually somewhat recovered her com- 
posure, only to promptly faint on discovering me 
in bed. 

I distinctly remember the look of horror on my 
companion's face, a boy about my own age, Ted 
Saxby, as he turned and fled from the scene as my 
face once more came to the surface. I managed 
to clutch some briars that were running from the 
bank some distance into the water and drew my- 
self ashore. I do not remember just how long I 
was lying at the foot of the steep bank, as I lost 
consciousness. Upon recovering consciousness I 
crawled up to the top of the bank where I found 
my shoes and socks, but my companion was no- 
where in sight. I called, but there was no 
response. 

I left the scene and went into a neighboring 
hay-field, where hay-making was going on, and 
rolled in the hay as a means to recuperate from 
the effects of the dipping and at the same time to 
dry my clothes. Not caring to venture home, as 
I was supposed to be drowned, I remained with 
the hay-makers until they left off work in the 
evening. The hay-makers adjourned to a public 
house on leaving the field and invited me to ac- 
company them, an invitation which I readily ac- 
cepted, as it afforded me the time necessary to 
wait for the people to go to bed before I would 
venture home. We remained in the tap-room 
drinking beer and amusing ourselves by shooting 
out the gas at which sport I became quite proficient 
before leaving the "pub" at "turning out time." 

I was at that time about seven years of age, 



72 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

and afforded the hay-makers much amusement 
by my marksmanship with the gun in shooting out 
the gas eveiy time I fired. 

I then paraded the church yard for an hour or 
more thinking it still too early for the folks at 
home to be asleep. Some time after midnight I 
made my way through the kitchen window to bed, 
thinking myself very clever in having got in with- 
out arousing any one from their slumbers. 

It transpired, as stated above, that the people 
were not asleep but still dragging the pit a few 
miles away. 

It was not long after the drowning accident that 
I was finally removed from Tonbridge to return 
to Snodland. In 1869 Mrs. Diprose, my nurse, 
died. A peculiar circumstance in connection with 
her death and illness may be related in the inter- 
est of psychologists: 

I knew, of course, that" Aunty" (as I was taught 
to call her) was ill. I did not, however, know 
the nature of her illness. The small thatched 
house, in which we were living in this village was 
of the old fashioned kind with diamond shaped 
window-panes, having a very fine grape vine spread 
over the back and side walls. The stairway was 
situated in the kitchen with a door at the bottom 
which was kept closed. 

One morning I was sitting in the old arm-chair 
by the fire-place and facing the stairway door. 
By the side of the door stood an old "Grand- 
father's" clock which had done service for genera- 
tions. The clock gave the warning to strike the 
hour of 10 A. M. ; at the same moment the stair 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 73 

door was opened by Elizabeth, the fourth of the 
seven daughters of Mrs. Diprose, who had just 
come down from her mother's room. As the door 
opened I looked up at Elizabeth and before she 
could step from the lower steps to the floor, I 
burst into tears. 

Elizabeth, surprised at this sudden and unex- 
pected outburst, said, "Whatever is the matter, 
Johnny?" Pointing to the clock, I said, "Aunty 
is dying." 

Elizabeth replied, ' ' No, no, mother is not dying. 
She is much better this morning. You must not 
cry." 

I protested, saying that her mother would die 
when the clock struck 10. 

Elizabeth replied, "Nonsense, I have just raised 
mother up in bed. She is quite easy. ' ' 

Pointing to the clock, I said, "When the clock 
gave warning to strike something told me that 
Aunty will die as the clock strikes ten." 

The girl, terror-stricken at my emotion and the 
manner in which I had informed her of my pre- 
monition, turned and ran upstairs ; she arrived at 
her mother's bedside just in time to support her 
mother on her arms as she sank back dead as the 
clock was striking the hour. 

On my return to England from India in 1894, I 
looked up the Diprose family and found Eliza- 
beth the happy mother of a number of children 
living at Lamberhurst in Kent. I asked her if 
she remembered the incident above related, in or- 
der to satisfy myself that it was not an imagina- 



74 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tion conjured up in childhood and exaggerated by 
reflection in after life. 

Elizabeth informed me that she remembered the 
incident perfectly well and had often wondered 
how the premonition of her mother's death came 
to me in such a remarkable manner. 

I may relate an amusing incident which occurred 
during my last sojourn with the Diproses. Mr. 
Diprose was working in the harvest field. I was 
sent to him on an errand and remained for some 
time playing about. The men struck work for 
dinner and invited me to join them in their re- 
past. 

This was no champagne banquet, but ale, bread 
and cheese and fat pork. Not being partial to 
either fat pork or cheese, strong enough to walk, 
the only thing on the bill-of-fare of which I would 
partake was the beer. 

As the harvest field has a tendency to sharpen 
the appetite I partook somewhat heartily of the 
"Malt Extract." Some time after this repast 
"Uncle" Diprose suggested that I had bet- 
ter go home and requested me at the same 
time to take a large basket of potatoes 
which he had procured from the neighbor- 
ing farm house. I proceeded on my homeward 
journey laboring under my double load of Malt 
Extract and potatoes. After having struggled 
along for some" three-quarters of a mile over the 
stubble of the harvested wheat field, my course 
thence on for another mile lay between two stands 
of wheat ; the path being about a foot wide at the 
base and very uncertain and uneven at the top; 



Memoirs of Prince John Dc Guelph 75 

nothing more or less than a rough ridge. I well 
remember the brave effort I made to maintain my 
balance on this razor-back ridge. In the even- 
ing of that day when ''Uncle" William Diprose 
was wending his way homeward along this self- 
same path, he was startled to observe that some- 
body had been planting potatoes about one-half of 
the distance, but a greater surprise was in store for 
him on finding that the potato scattering terminat- 
ed abruptly with about a peck and a half scattered 
in a small circle like a punctuation mark. He 
thought it a "full" stop and began to investigate. 
He found his potato basket lying upside down a 
few feet from the path, and a break in the wheat 
led him to believe that further investigation on 
his part would lead to some further discovery. 

Some three or four yards further in the wheat 
he discovered me "dead to the world," the heat 
of the harvest field and alcoholic poisoning had 
rendered me unconscious. "Uncle" William 
placed me in his potato basket and carried me 
home and called in a doctor; restoratives were 
duly administered and I was not much the worse 
for my experience. 

Having been very delicate as a child it was 
thought by my foster-mother that life on a farm 
would be beneficial to my health. During the two 
or three last years of my stay at Snodland I 
worked on the farm, but the long hours and insuffi- 
cient rest tended to further impair rather than im- 
prove my health. 

At the age of twelve it was decided that 
it was time for another change of scene. On 



76 Memoirs of Prince John Dc GuelpJi 

the 14th of February, 1873, I was, accord- 
ingly, sent as a novel valentine to a brother 
of my fostermother, a Mr. George Norman, of 
Lichfield, Staffordshire. I can not say that the 
idea of this change appealed to me in any way 
from the time it was suggested. Notwithstanding 
that it was not always pleasant to a child of eight 
to ten years of age to be routed out of bed at three 
o'clock every morning to trudge off two or three 
miles to commence his early labors of farm work 
by five A. M., and that this experience was the 
more difficult by reason of the fact that I was fully 
cognizant of my identity and that my proper place 
at such hours was to be snugly tucked away in a 
comfortable bed in a palace ; I had adapted myself 
to the modest environments and had learned to 
love the girls of the family, as also their father. 

I had a presentiment that the proposed change 
to Lichfield would not be agreeable to me.' 

Having been deprived of the love and care of 
my mother and father, it was hard to be repeatedly 
deprived of such affection as was accorded to me 
by the different families with which I was placed 
as a child only to go again among strangers. 

On being sent to Lichfield I explained to my 
foster-mother and also to her brother that this 
life of being kicked about from "pillar to post," 
thus depriving me of any lasting human friend- 
ship, was too much for my sensitive nature, and 
that I intended henceforth to make my own way 
in the world. 

I would go to work and earn my own living. 
While at that time I was obliged to live with my 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 77 

guardian, I started to work at the Priory for 
Squire Brown. My work there was to take care 
of eight cows, assist in the dairy and incidentally 
in the stables. 

I soon became expert in the task of milking my 
eight cows and quite enjoyed such good company. 
With the exception of a little red-and-white vixen 
the rest of the happy family bestowed upon me 
as great, if not greater, affection than I had re- 
ceived at the hands of any members of the human 
family. 

On my first introduction to the red-and-white 
cow in question, I sought to gain her confidence by 
kindness and gentle treatment. It had been cus- 
tomary to strap her legs and bar her in during 
the process of milking. This treatment I con- 
demned as cruelty to animals. Acting upon this 
conscientious conviction, I took my milk can and 
stool and, dispensing with the restraining straps 
and the rail, proceeded to milk my pet. 

The freedom of action in her legs and body dur- 
ing the performance of this maternal function evi- 
dently took her by surprise, as some minutes 
elapsed before she availed herself of the privilege 
thus accorded her. In due time, however, she 
came to a full realization of her advantage and of 
the fool-hardiness of her latest "calf," and pro- 
tested vigorously against the ribs of her inno- 
cent victim. 

Possibly the only other evidence at present ob- 
tainable of that amusing incident would be the 
mark on the corner of the cow-shed against which 
my aerial flight was abruptly terminated, unless 



78 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Squire Brown, or some of the household can still 
be found to corroborate the story. 

I was obliged to part from my pets after an ac- 
quaintance of only a few months in consequence 
of my health. 

While strong and healthy as an infant, I was in 
very delicate health for many years after having 
been dumped over the railway wall in the first 
year of my existence. It was the opinion of 
medical men then that with my skull crushed in 
I could not live many months, and, as time went 
on they declared I could not be reared to the age 
of twelve years. It was not surprising, therefore, 
that I should have suffered from the effects of 
having been so nearly drowned. 

I was quite ill for some time following this ac- 
cident. 

I suffered a good deal also with my eyes; the 
trouble being attributed to my having taken a 
severe cold through the ducking and remaining 
in my wet clothes. 

This trouble with my eyes continued for some 
years. At the age of twelve, shortly after my 
change of residence and guardians, from Kent to 
Staffordshire, in the city of Lichfield, it was fear- 
ed that I would lose my sight. I suffered from a 
very severe attack of ophthalmia. 

I was placed under the treatment of a noted 
Birmingham oculist, as an out-patient of the Bir- 
mingham Eye and Ear Hospital. I well remember 
my first visit to that institution. My condition was 
so serious that it was not deemed advisable that 
I should make this short journey of a couple of 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 79 

hours by train in one day. I was accordingly 
sent to Walsall, only a few miles from Lichfield, 
one afternoon, where I was met by the late Sister 
Dora, who took me to the Cottage Hospital of 
which she had charge. 

Sister Dora treated me with the kindness, gen- 
tleness and loving sympathy of a mother. I was 
in great agony from the pain in my eyes, but 
I felt that I could cheerfully suffer a great deal 
for the privilege of being for a few hours under 
the care of this saintly woman, who was my ideal 
of a ministering angel from the Almighty. 

The following morning I was put on the train 
for Birmingham only a few miles distant from 
Walsall. On reaching that town I made my way 
unattended to the hospital. I will not torture my 
readers with the horrid details of the treatment or 
suffering I endured during the months that I at- 
tended that institution. 

Suffice it to say that my case necessitated an 
increased supply of leeches to the hospital and 
that I furnished nourishment to a thousand and 
more of these blood suckers. 

Seemingly fearful lest my blood supply should 
prove insufficient for the ever-increasing number 
of leeches to gorge themselves upon, the doctor 
filled me up with cod-liver oil to such an extent 
that I ultimately took to the sea. 

Following the leeches the doctor, evidently bent 
upon increasing the mortality of the hospital, ran 
setons through my temples to keep up the suppura- 
tion, following this up with the probing of the eyes 



80 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 

and the application of poisons which only in- 
creased my suffering. 

In later years I reflected with feelings of right- 
eous indignation on this system of treatment and 
the painful difficulties under which I had to grope 
my way alone through the streets of a strange 
town from the hospital to the station, suffering un- 
speakable torture of both body and mind. The 
agony of one of the most painful afflictions of the 
body that it is possible to bear, and deprived 
of sight, a helpless boy of twelve years, I was 
buffeted about by the crowd and congested traffic 
in that busy manufacturing center of the "black" 
country. The torture of my body was, however, 
not to be compared with that of my mind which 
was overwhelmed with grief through the knowl- 
edge of my painful position : the grandson of the 
Queen of England, the first-born son of the Prince 
of Wales, Prince of the blood royal, deserted and 
cast adrift, blind and helpless to struggle alone 
through dangers that threatened my life at every 
step. 

My mind at that time was pre-occupied with 
thoughts such as experienced by one at the point 
of death. Years of suffering had robbed me of 
the joys of childhood, my thoughts were those of 
a maturer being. 

I was carried in thought to the palaces to see 
my royal grandmother, whom I could not help 
but despise ; I could see my father and the woman 
who had displaced my own beautiful mother; I 
could see my half-brothers and sisters gamboling 
in luxury ; I could see my broken-hearted mother 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 81 

as she walked alone in the grounds of the old Scot- 
tish Castle where Queen Mary had spent much of 
her time. The only rift in the dark clouds of my 
suffering was the pleasure of meeting Sister Dora 
and the fond recollections of her loving sympathy 
and caress. A statue has been erected in Walsall 
to the memory of Sister Dora. It is the one statue 
in England which in my opinion should have been 
made of gold. 

At the end of about six months' treatment the 
condition of my eyes was much worse than when I 
commenced treatment, and hopes of saving my 
sight had been despaired of. At this juncture I 
contemplated very seriously upon the prospects 
of my future life. Was it not enough that I had 
been cruelly cast adrift and that my mother was 
pining in solitude bereft of both her husband and 
child; must the greatest of all afflictions, blind- 
ness, be added to the already bitter cup of the un- 
christian and barbarous acts of my Queen and 
grandmother? Hitherto, most of my time had 
been spent in a darkened room and under a large 
table with a spread reaching nearly to the floor to 
further protect my eyes from the little light that 
penetrated the humble apartment. The torture 
of mind and body, the gross injustice and neglect, 
at length became intolerable, and I sought the soli- 
tude of the fields, where I might be alone with my 
Heavenly Father. I spent many hours lying on 
the grass in deep meditation and prayer. I found 
that the soft green of the grass was more sooth- 
ing to my eyes than was the darkness and im- 
pure atmosphere of my room. 



82 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

One morning I threw myself upon the grass in 
a field in which I saw numerous plants having deli- 
cate bird 's-eye flowers and small leaves of a dark, 
soft green. 

Placing my face close to the plant, I soon ob- 
served that it produced a most soothing effect 
upon my eyes. I was immediately impressed to 
tear out the setons from my temples, to throw 
away my medicines and to substitute the treat- 
ment before me for the barbarous treatment which 
I had been undergoing. I tore the plants up by 
the roots, filled my pocket handkerchief and my 
pockets with them and returned home. I went to 
the kitchen, washed the plants thoroughly, put 
them into a saucepan with water and proceeded 
to brew my decoction, much to the amazement and 
alarm of Mrs. Norman, the wife of my guardian. 

She remonstrated with me in vain: "You will 
blind yourself/' she said. "You may poison 
yourself and die," and such like expostulations. 

I replied that "Dr. Solomon, with all his wis- 
dom, was certainly making me blind, and that he 
had expressed the opinion that I could not live." 
This I had overheard him tell my guardian. 

I told her that I was not prepared to go through 
life blind; and that I intended to live to make a 
home for my mother, to show my grandmother 
that I did not want her support and that I could 
become a greater man without her aid than I would 
become if coddled up in the palace where I could 
learn nothing of the world. 

When my guardian returned from work in the 
evening, I had already applied my home-made 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 83 

"lotion" to my eyes several times with consider- 
able benefit. He was dumbfounded when I told of 
my act, and inquired why I had torn the setons 
from my temples. I informed him that I had 
torn them with a single jerk instead of torturing 
myself morning and night to tear them out by de- 
grees. 

I further explained that I was not going to see 
Dr. Solomon again. 

At bedtime I applied the leaves from my decoc- 
tion as a poultice to my eyes. Each day I gathered 
a fresh supply and made a fresh decoction. After 
about a fortnight's treatment my eyes were strong 
and well. 

I remember having heard my guardian, when 
speaking of this unusual experiment, remark that 
it was the most wonderful thing he had ever seen 
or heard of in all his travels during his twenty- 
one years' service in the army. He said: "Mur- 
der will out. They talk of the King's touch for 
the 'King's evil;' I do believe that this boy must 
have it in him or he would never have done such 
an extraordinary thing." 



CHAPTER X 

CHAFING UNDER THE INJUSTICE OF MY DISINHERI- 
TANCE AND RESTRAINT IN MY FALSE POSITION I 
THROW OFF THE YOKE AND GO INTO THE 
WORLD A MAN AMONG MEN 

It was in my thirteenth year that my foster- 
mother showed greater anxiety than usual over 
my refusal to study. She promised to give me, as 
pocket money, one guinea for each copy-book that 
I could fill in a year ; and estimated that I ought 
to fill three or four books a week, and she had a 
gross of assorted books sent to me, in addition 
to books on arithmetic, history, geography, etc. 

By way of encouragement she impressed upon 
me very seriously my duty as a Prince to qualify 
myself for the " exalted station to which my coun- 
try would some day call me," and pointed out 
the advantages of the practical education possible 
to me. 

Having already repudiated the miserable pit- 
tance allowed for my support and education, and 
having gone to work to earn my own living rather 
than accept their miserable "mess of pottage," I 
naturally failed to "bite at the cherry" offered 
me with the copy book. 

Needless to say that at the end of the year I had 
not earned a single guinea by the art of the pen. 

84 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 85 

If I had the ability to earn my own living under 
circumstances so far removed from those to which 
I was born, i. e., in the stable and cow-shed, I con- 
cluded that I was also capable of exercising and 
developing the intelligence transmitted to me by 
my royal parents and long line of cultured ances- 
tors. 

My next position was with W. H. Tanner & 
Co., wholesale and retail grocers of Lichfield, 
where I became somewhat familiar with the art of 
the confectioner and the " counter-jumper. ' ' 

I also had some experience of the business of 
the traveler, as it was my duty to drive out to all 
the neighboring towns with the traveling sales- 
man several times a week. 

Another position held in Lichfield was with 
William Norman, the wholesale draper. 

My principal duty there was to attend in the 
shop ; accompany the outside salesman three times 
a week on our various routes. There being nine 
different routes, we covered each route only once 
in three weeks, which made these trips more inter- 
esting than more frequent visits would have been, 
as our sweethearts in the various towns had time 
to feel our absence and, naturally, were always 
looking forward to our coming. 

Still another experience was in the shop of Mr. 
Simpson the shoemaker, where I learned to both 
mend and make shoes, and, at the same time, de- 
veloped athletic tendencies in the way of riding 
the " flying horse," the principal sport of the hard- 
working cobbler. 

The novel sport of the " flying-horse" not be- 



86 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ing much understood by others than the members 
of our " fraternity," I may enlighten my readers 
on this exciting experience — the first time that the 
secret has been made public. The pedigree of the 
"flying-horse" can not be traced to the thorough- 
bred Arabian steed or to the English racer. It 
is a species peculiar to the steed of the shoe- 
maker's shop. 

To bring the "flying-horse" to perfection for 
animated action, two holes are bored in the seat 
of the cobbler's bench about an inch and one-half 
apart and a groove in the seat cut out from hole 
to hole large enough to admit of a strong waxed 
end operating without obstruction. A cobbler's 
needle of some three inches is then threaded with 
a waxed end of suitable length to reach around the 
room; the needle is then placed eye downward 
through one of the holes in the seat, the point be- 
ing flush with the top. The other end of the 
thread is then passed along the groove and down 
through the opposite hole, passing, generally, from 
the back of the seat along by the wall like a tele- 
phone wire, but concealed. The end of the thread 
is within reach of the operator in some other part 
of the room. The whole staff, including employ- 
ers and employees, having found some excuse for 
visiting the work room, the operator pulls the 
thread o-r bridle of the "flying-horse" with a jerk 
which springs the needle up the one hole penetrat- 
ing the breech saddle of the novice rider, who in 
turn parts company with the needle by a dexterous 
vault into space. My experience in this feat broke 
the previous records of the sitting high-jump. By 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 87 

the time he descends from the ceiling the "flying- 
horse" and its equipment have disappeared. 

I next entered the railway service as a clerk, 
in 1874. I was at that time chafing under the re- 
straint of my guardians and was consequently very 
unhappy for the reason, as some may understand, 
that where a child is under the guardianship of 
strangers the dutiful affection that would be 
natural from a child to its parents and vice versa 
is lacking. 

I told my guardian on several occasions that I 
would not submit to this treatment but would start 
out into the world that I might enjoy the independ- 
ence that one is entitled to in life. 

My guardian expressed himself that it might do 
me good to have a taste of the world, but, that if 
I should leave his protection, he was sure that a 
few days' experience in the cold world would be 
quite enough to bring me back. 

In the month of March, 1876, I told them one 
evening that I intended to leave the next day. The 
following day I left home without taking a change 
of linen or clothes or so much as a clean pocket 
handkerchief. I left in my office suit. I chose this 
course for the reason that I feared that if I took 
my belongings they would be apprehensive about 
me and think that I was going for good, which 
might be rather awkward. 

I purchased a railway ticket to Birmingham and 
was seen to leave by train for that city. I had 
selected a compartment in which there was no 
other passenger. When the train was well out 
of Lichfield, I opened the door of the compart- 



88 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ment, stepped out onto the step, closed the door 
and dropped off of the rapidly moving train. 

Picking myself up from the bottom of the bank, 
where I had rolled, I went across fields and finally 
struck the road leading to Derby and Nottingham. 
I walked to Derby that day and the following even- 
ing arrived at Nottingham with about two shillings 
in my pocket. I put up at a hotel on the station 
road, paying eighteen pence for my bed and four 
pence for a glass of beer and bread and cheese. 
My exchequer being now down to two-pence it was 
imperative that I obtain employment forthwith. I 
got up at 2.30 A. M. and by three o 'clock was out 
looking for work. I found a coffee stand owned by 
a man named Jackson. He was blind. This 
poor fellow I learned had been a stocking maker 
and had lost his sight in the factory. He was a 
devout Methodist, and had his coffee stand to sup- 
ply factory hands going to the factory in the early 
hours of the morning and the night shifts, etc. I 
thought that I would invest in a cup of coffee for 
a penny, which I did. The blind man treated me 
cordially and inquired if I did not want a bun also. 
I replied that I did not, that it was rather early 
for breakfast, and that I only wanted a cup of 
coffee. 

He invited me to sit down in his coffee stand and 
insisted upon my having a bun with my coffee, re- 
fusing payment for the bun. The blind man knew 
every one of his customers, man, woman and child. 
He also knew that I was a stranger in that town. 
He inquired what I was doing out so early. I 
told him that I was out looking for work, at which 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 89 

he smiled kindly, and said, "three o'clock in the 
morning is rather early to start out to look for 
work. It is useless for yon to go to any place on 
that errand before eight or nine o'clock." He in- 
vited me to remain with him until that time and 
offered to go with me to see if he could help in 
securing me a place. 

He said that he supposed that I had run away 
from home but that he did not wish to ask any 
questions about me or my people and would help 
me in any way possible. I accepted his invitation 
with thanks and at eight o 'clock assisted in taking 
down the booth, packing away his coffee urns, 
etc., and wheeling the same to his house where I 
was introduced to his aged mother and invalid 
sisters, whom this poor blind man was supporting 
by his coffee stand. I was made quite at home by 
this good-hearted family and after breakfast start- 
ed out in company with the blind man in quest of 
work. He suggested looking through the papers 
to see if I could find a congenial position ad- 
vertised. I concluded that this would be a waste of 
time as any position that I might wish to apply 
for would require a character, which, under the 
circumstances, I could not produce. I explained to 
Mr. Jackson that I was half Irish and that like a 
certain Irishman I had once heard of, who, when 
being asked for his character, vainly searched his 
pockets and then innocently replied, "An', faith, 
sor, I have lost it." Mr. Jackson readily agreed 
with me that under the circumstances it would be 
advisable to apply for work in some of the fac- 
tories, which we accordingly did. He led the way 



90 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

to Cox's lace factory, the manager of which was 
a woman. Mr. Jackson went in and saw this good 
lady and commended me to her motherly sympa- 
thy. I was then called in and informed that I could 
have a position in the factory at fourteen shillings 
a week. 

Being asked when I would like to commence, I 
replied "that I would start at once." I was ac- 
cordingly introduced in the "drying room" and 
started to work. I boarded with the blind man and 
his family. 

Work became short in the factory a few weeks 
later and as hands were out on half time I accord- 
ingly sought another position. Seeing a place ad- 
vertised at Gilliver's Hotel and confectionery, I 
applied for the position, relying on my former 
experience in that line to favor me in my applica- 
tion. I got the job. Some three months later while 
out making the early morning purchase in meat, 
for pork pies, etc., I looked through the advertise- 
ments in the morning paper and saw a position 
advertised for a billiard marker in the Caledonia 
Hotel, ten shillings a week, board, lodging and 
washing. This was considerably better than the 
job I held. I called on my way back with my bas- 
ket on my arm to apply in person for the position. 
The proprietor appeared to be amused and pleased 
with my timely appearance and smiled at the man- 
ner in which I had presented myself. He told 
me that I could have the position, providing my 
present employers would recommend me and that 
he wished me to start as early as possible. Need- 
less to say ihe recommendation was all right and 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 91 

that my employers were pleased to know that I had 
an opportunity to better myself, and said that I 
could go at once as the Caledonia was without a 
boy, but I declined to leave them until they had se- 
cured the services of another boy to take my place. 
This was readily done and I started upon my new 
position. I knew nothing about "grooming" bil- 
lard tables, my work in that line having been with 
cows and horses. However, the billard tables were 
perfectly harmless and so I entered upon my task 
of brushing and ironing without fear. I enjoyed 
the work and also the pay and very soon became so 
proficient in that game that I seriously contem- 
plated challenging the champion of England to a 
game of one-thousand up. 

Some six months later another opening occurred 
for advancement which was at the Royal Hotel, 
just across the street from the Caledonia. 

I secured the position and was doing very well. 
I had joined the Good Templars and otherwise 
tried to improve my time. Mr. Thomas Beckett, 
as the name implies, was a good Irishman, and 
all the employees of the hotel were Irish, with the 
exception of myself, who was taken for a full- 
blooded Englishman. Fear of betraying my iden- 
tity caused me to suppress the real Irish part of 
my nature, which, however, would persist in bob- 
bing up. There was one incident through which 
my Irish descent was nearly betrayed. 

I was the youngest member of the staff, a deli- 
cate boy of fifteen and a half years. The head 
"Boots" was a big raw-boned fellow with the map 
of Ireland well defined on his features and the 



92 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ancient Gaelic infliction apparent in his every 
utterance. 

One afternoon I ventured to play a practical 
joke upon him, which he resented. He turned upon 
me saying, "Ye spalpeen ye, I'll be afther boxing 
yer ears" — and, suiting the action to the word, 
raised his hand to carry out his purpose. Before 
he could get in the slap, he lost his own wits from 
the shock received from a lightning-like pummel- 
ing about his own sweet countenance and spare- 
ribs. Seizing a carving knife from the table he 
came after me to cut out my "English heart." 
Upon this demonstration of Irish hostility, I went 
at him in real earnest, declaring that I was a bet- 
ter Irishman than the whole d — d outfit of them. 
He went over the table, upset a few chairs and 
broke up the crockery and created such a racket 
in general that Beckett and the whole household 
rushed into the room to ascertain the cause of the 
tumult and dismantling of the kitchen. 

When they saw the ' ' Boots ' ' kicking and squirm- 
ing on the floor trying to free himself from the 
wreckage, and I standing over him promising to 
repeat the punishment if he did not behave him- 
self, everybody roared at the ludicrous situation 
of the victorious youngster standing over the van- 
quished giant. 

Some weeks after my arrival in Nottingham the 
Jacksons informed me that they had seen an ad- 
vertisement in a newspaper about a boy of my age 
and description who had run away from home and 
that they were wondering if I was the boy. 

I told them that there were many boys like me 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 
and I had no donbt many had mn away from home 
as I had done. I did not think that there was any 
one snffieiently interested in me to offer -. reward 
for my retnrn. On the contrary I though t tha t it 
m y people got an inkling that I had f^ 1 £ 
turning they would he more likely to offer a re 
lard for me to stay away. They decided that it 
was not worth while informing about me. 

I was not to be allowed to remain taj-d* 
ed I had been in Nottingham about eighteen 
months when one morning, as I was passing 
Through the market place, I looked into a draper s 
S and saw standing behind the counter and star- 
fng'at me, a salesman who had been taeg » 
ployed at Norman's shop in Lichfield._ Placm 
one hand upon the counter, he was over in a twm- 
kUng and making for the door. When he got out- 
b de I was nowhere to be seen. A fortnight later 
I was walking along the Trent side to take my 
morning dip. I had proceeded about a mile along 
ttie bank of the river when I saw my friend of 
Se counter approaching from the , opposite .dire, 
tion in company with a couple of friends. With a 
hedee on one side, the river on the othei and no 
conve Jent corners to dodge around or alley-ways 
n whhm to lose myself as on the previous occa- 
sioZ ther was nothing for it but to face the musi. 
men we met he asked me, "What are you doing 

hpre'" • > 

I replied that I was about to take my morning s 
dip. He seemed annoyed and said sharply, 1 
mean, what are you doing in Nottingham? to 
which I truthfully replied, "I am not in Netting- 



94 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ham." He then inquired if he had not seen me 
passing his shop in the market place a fortnight 
ago. 

I told him that it was quite possible, as I came 
into Nottingham on market days. He informed 
me that he had telegraphed to my "uncle" at 
that time, who, he said, had been looking me up 
in Nottingham but having failed to trace me had 
returned home. 

In reply to further inquiries made for the pur- 
pose of informing on me, I told him that I had been 
apprenticed to a carpenter in Beeston some three 
miles from Nottingham. 

Taking in my dress, gold watch and chain and 
other articles of jewelry, he said, "You don't look 
much like a carpenter's apprentice. I am going 
direct to the telegraph office to wire for your 
' uncle.' " 

I told him that he might save himself the trouble 
and the other people the annoyance, as I was going 
off to the training ship that morning, having en- 
listed in the Marines. I turned up the lapel of my 
coat but failed to find the "ribbons" to corrobor- 
ate my statement and explained that * ' I must have 
left them with the sergeant." 

I informed him that my gala attire was my 
"Sunday best," donned in honor of my last day 
as a civilian. 

This all seemed plausible enough, but he did not 
believe it and my pleasant life with the Beckett's 
and in Nottingham was destined to be cut short 
that evening. I was playing a billard match at 
the Royal in the early evening of that day, at the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 95 

conclusion of which I heard a familiar voice behind 
me, saying, " Well done, John ! I did not know that 
you were a champion billiard player. But now 
this sort of game has to stop. You have to go 
home with me to-night. Why did you run away 
from Mr. Bradbury when he saw you pass by his 
shop a fortnight ago?" 

I replied that "Not having seen Mr. Bradbury I 
did not run away from him. Possibly I was turn- 
ing a corner at the time when he says he saw me, 
or, he may not have seen me at all. Had he seen 
me on the market place, it is strange that I should 
have vanished into thin air while he was getting 
to the door. As to returning home with you, I 
can not do so, for the reason that I am employed 
here, doing well and quite happy in my own way. ' ' 

He said, "That has already been arranged. I 
have spoken to Mr. Beckett and explained to him 
that I am your lawful guardian and have come 
here to take you home. It is only left to you to 
put on your hat and say good-bye." 

Finding that protestation was useless and that 
I must once more have my painful position forced 
upon me, a child without parents' love or care, 
robbed of my own home and of my rights as a 
legitimate child in a Christian nation, to be again 
obliged to become a wanderer on the face of the 
earth rather than return to environments which 
were so obnoxious to me, I invited my friends to a 
private room to take a light repast before leaving. 
I excused myself that I might go and pack my lug- 
gage. This I had the "Boots" place in a cab, and, 



96 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

having wished the Becketts ' ' good-bye, ' ' returned 
to the room to see how my guests were faring. 

In reply to the question as to whether I was 
nearly ready, I explained that I was, and would 
now see that all my traps were brought down 
from my room. Closing the door and gently turn- 
ing the key on the outside, I stepped into the wait- 
ing cab and drove with my luggage to the Lion 
Hotel. 

I saw the " Boots" there and asked him to take 
care of my traps. I slept in his room that night, 
leaving town early the next morning, once more 
riding "Balaam's Ass" in preference to risking 
my precious body near any railway station to be 
unceremoniously packed off to Lichfield. 

Having left all my baggage with the "Boots" 
at the Lion Hotel, I was once again out in the 
world without a change of garments. I went to 
Newark, and early the following morning I made 
my way towards London, not knowing what to do 
or where to be safe from molestation. 

I made up my mind to go to the metropolis and 
try to locate my mother. I had proceeded only 
a few miles when I came across a gang of navvies 
working on a new railroad cutting. I stopped and 
watched the men at work for a few minutes. Here, 
I thought, was an opportunity for me to lose my 
identity and to safely evade, at least for some 
time, the search which I knew would be made for 
me. 

Nobody would think of looking for me working 
ns a "navvy" with pick and shovel in cutting out 
a roadbed. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 97 

I immediately inquired for the foreman and ask- 
ed for the job. He looked me up and down with a 
broad grin, and then said, ' ' Let me see them aris- 
tocratic hands of yours." 

I turned them up for him to see, upon which he 
ejaculated, "I be d — d if they aren't as soft as 
silk! I know'd you hadn't done any hard work, 
but I be hanged if I thought ye had hands as soft 
as a lady's. I guess ye must need a job awful bad 
to want to tackle this. The pay is five 'bob' a day. 
You'll have to pay eighteen pence for the pick and 
shovel, but you can turn it in again when you leave 
the job and draw your money." 

"Navvies," like convicts, are known by their 
numbers. I have never forgotten mine which was 
509. 

I at once started in to work and my appearance 
there, like a peacock among a flock of crows, gave 
cause for much amusement among those big, 
rough, good-natured fellows. The work was hard, 
it is true, and my hands at the end of the first day 
were not quite so much "like silk," for they were 
practically raw, blisters having formed and broken 
one after another, but I have never regretted that 
I worked for two days as a "navvy." The experi- 
ence enabled me to understand that class of men 
in a manner that I never could have done by look- 
ing on from a royal palace or state-coach. The 
favorable impression made upon me by that 
"happy-go-lucky crew" was such that I am always 
ready to give the "navvy" a hearty handshake 
and a treaWhenever I meet him. 



98 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

I next found myself in Bedford on the 25th of 
June, 1877. 

Fifty miles only now separated me from Buck- 
ingham Palace, from my grandmother, the Queen, 
who had so cruelly wronged me, from my father, 
and, could it be possible, from my mother ! 

For ten years the "great palace" in London had 
entered largely into my plans of campaign to right 
the wrongs of my mother, when I should become 
a man. 

I was now sixteen years and six months old. I 
spent a sleepless night in thinking over my plan 
of action. 

I decided upon seeing my grandmother to ask 
her to give me my mother's address that I might 
go to her. Should my request be refused, I would 
go to France to secure the support of that country 
and return at the head of the French Army to 
invade England. I would capture London, place 
my father and mother on the throne, and send my 
grandmother into exile, as she had exiled my 
mother and myself by robbing us of our rightful 
station. 

This course I thought would be the right one 
to follow and perfectly just. It was the least she 
could expect, and I could not reconcile myself to 
the thought of sending my own grandmother to 
the Tower, no matter how richly she might have 
deserved it. 

This plan of campaign was, however, consider- 
ably modified the following morning when a re- 
cruiting sergeant entered my Council of War. 
The suggestions of the sergeant that I should enter 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 99 

the army were quite in keeping with my proposed 
ultimate line of action. 

Military training and experience in active serv- 
ice were essential requirements of good general- 
ship. I would avail myself of the opportunity of 
obtaining such training and experience. The 
British army, I concluded, afforded me the best 
possible opportunity for the carrying out of my 
purpose in regard to the necessary training for 
the proposed conquest. 



CHAPTER XI 

I ENLIST IN THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT STATIONED 

IN IRELAND AMUSING INCIDENTS WITH IRISH 

PEOPLE 1 REFUSE PROMOTION TO BECOME 

BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH THE 

soldier's LIFE 

I entered into ray military career with the 
determination to make the most of my practical 
training. 

The changing from one station to another in 
different parts of the Empire would afford me 
many good opportunities to familiarize myself 
with the customs and manners of the peoples of 
the Empire and the conditions under which they 
live. 

I realized that, as my foster-mother had im- 
pressed upon me, the best means to acquire a full 
understanding of the lot of the people was by be- 
ing one of the people. 

To understand the life of the private soldier 
one must be a soldier. I would be a soldier. 

It is the duty of the Secretary of the State for 
war, through various departments, and the com- 
mander-in-chief, generals commanding divisions, 
officers commanding regiments, and captains of 
companies to bring the army to the highest state 
of efficiency. To study scientifically the difficult 
100 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 101 

problem of equipment of troops on peace and war 
footing. It is the duty of company and battalion 
commanders to study the individual characteris- 
tics and temperament of each and every man un- 
der their command. 

In order to successfully carry out this duty 
something more is necessary than the perfunctory 
daily inspection of barrack rooms, and weekly 
"kit inspections," and the visit of the officer of 
the day at meal times with the time-worn: "Any 
complaints?" 

These inspections, like the inspections on parade, 
are carried out for the purpose of exercising, in 
many cases, the superior authority of the officer 
to enforce a servile submission rather than to com- 
mand obedience in the soldier. Scarcely an inspec- 
tion was made without some unfortunate fellows 
being reprimanded or punished on the most trivial 
grounds. 

Some young officers on first entering upon regu- 
lar duty, entertain exaggerated ideas of their duty 
of condescension to get in closer touch with the 
men. 

An amusing illustration was afforded by a sec- 
ond lieutenant on the occasion of his first visit as 
officer of the day to the barrack rooms. 

The men were at breakfast. The orderly offi- 
cer sung out his maiden, — "Any complaints?" — 
he then proceeded to inspect the tables. One man 
was enjoying a delicacy not served in the officers' 
mess or even in the sergeants' mess. 

It is no wonder, therefore, that this young sprig 
of an officer should not have seen it before. 



102 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

The appetizing dish enjoyed exclusively by 
' ' Tommy Atkins ' ' consisted of bread soaked in his 
bowl of coffee. 

The officer looked astonished when he saw this 
mixture. Speaking in a patronizing manner, he 
asked the man what he called that dish. 

"Slingers," replied Tommy A. "You seem to 
enjoy it very much; is it good?" inquired the offi- 
cer. ' ' Fine, ' ' replied T. A. 

Turning to the orderly sergeant, the officer in- 
structed him to see that henceforth the men should 
all have "Slingers." He thought it a more suit- 
able diet for breakfast than beefsteak or ham and 
eggs. 

Needless to say, "Slingers" were taken as de- 
sert and not intended to displace the ration of 
beef, mutton or fish. 

In the month of July I was drafted with other 
men from the Eegimental Depot, Bedford, to the 
headquarters of the First Battalion 16th Regi- 
ment, then stationed at Buttevant, Ireland, and 
was attached to Company B. 

I now felt that I was secure from further moles- 
tation from my guardians, and for the first time 
in my life felt free, although under military dis- 
cipline. I enjoyed the life of the soldier, includ- 
ing both duties and labors. 

I soon became popular with the men and the 
non-commissioned officers of my company. I de- 
voted my spare time to study and getting about the 
neighboring country and at once became much 
attached to the good-natured and happy disposi- 
tioned people. It was a matter of surprise to me 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 103 

to discover that people could be so happy and con- 
tented under the trying circumstances and miser- 
able condition in which the poorer classes lived. 

Most of the men spent their pay either in the 
canteen or the regimental coffee shop on beer and 
extra diet, while others would bank their money. 

My hobby was to patronize the old apple women 
and others of that class who would sit the live- 
long day in all weathers to peddle their goods. 

I enjoyed very much turning over my three or 
four shillings a week to these good souls whose 
lot in life is not, by any means, rosy. 

I received good returns for my money, not only 
in the way of "good measure," but the pleasant 
conversations were a means of obtaining knowl- 
edge at first hand from the people whose condition 
I longed to improve. 

One old apple woman, Mrs. Finigan, I particu- 
larly remember, whom I patronized every day. 

I was always greeted with a hearty "Arrah, 
God bless you, my child, and it's a fine, warm 
marning," — or, if raining "pitchforks," — "It's a 
fine saf t marning, ' ' — or, on the coldest day in win- 
ter, with her basket on the snow and ice, — "It's a 
fine hard marning." No matter what the condi- 
tion of the weather, good or bad, to those happy, 
philosophical people the weather was always 
"fine." 

My regiment was only a few months at Butte- 
vant after I joined; but I made the most of my 
time in seeing as much of the country and the peo- 
ple as possible in that locality and in the neigh- 
boring towns. I made many happy acquaintances 



104 Memoirs of Prince Jolin Dc Guelph 

and enjoyed visiting the homesteads of tenant 
farmers and other classes. Indeed, the happiest 
years of my life were spent in Ireland. The cheer- 
ful disposition of the people and their quaint lives, 
always full of mirth, produced an effect upon me 
in striking contrast to the heartaches of my child- 
hood. 

I was once spending a very pleasant Sunday 
afternoon with a family some miles from town, 
shortly after my arrival in Ireland. We were tak- 
ing tea in this humble cottage; the happy family 
seated around the table. My chair was located so 
that my back was to the front door, which was 
open. Suddenly there was some considerable com- 
motion at the back of the house, the cause of which 
I did not understand. I had heard of the raids 
made on the helpless tenants and that cruel evic- 
tions were of common occurrence. 

Before I had time to inquire what the trouble 
was, my chair and myself were raised bodily from 
the ground and pitched outside. It was my first 
experience of unjust eviction in Ireland, without 
notice. 

I remember the good house-wife remarking as 
I was thus being unceremoniously evicted, " Arrah, 
be aisy wid ye, it's only the pig." The pigs had 
stampeded from the back yard through the house, 
one passing under my chair by way of "a short 
cut." 

One other incident in Buttevant which I shall 
never forget was a little affair of the heart. 

Mary O'Connor, daughter of an inn-keeper, had 
charge of the Buttevant Inn, while her father con- 






Memoirs of Prince John Be Guetpk 105 

ducted a more pretentious hostelry in Cork. Mary 
was a very sweet and pretty girl, with many ar- 
dent suitors. 

I was an occasional visitor of the Buttevant 
house. On calling there one evening, I found great 
rejoicing. Mary was engaged, and the happy lover 
was ' ' treating the house. ' ' He was going to Cork 
to receive the congratulations of Mary's father, 
but ' ' could not, ' ' he said, ' ' tear himself away from 
Mary until the following week." 

The Irish side of my nature was developing 
rapidly in its native soil. I seized the opportu- 
nity to play a practical joke on the happy pair. 

I accordingly obtained leave of absence for 
seven days, proceeded to Cork, and introduced 
myself to Mary's father as his prospective son- 
in-law. 

Mr. O'Connor was jubilant at the surprise trip 
and most profuse with his congratulations and 
praise of my sense of duty in so promptly paying 
my respects to him. He collected all the patrons 
from the different rooms in the house, sent 
messengers to call relatives and friends "post 
haste ' ' to drink the health of his son-in-law to be. 
Irish whisky was "flowing like rivers of rum," 
served in gallon measures, and passed round to 
the happy guests in half -pint mugs. 

Every Irishman present was impatient for his 
turn to toast me, and the rapidity with which 
those mugs were emptied and replenished, as toast 
followed upon toast, was one of the most astonish- 
ing and amusing scenes I ever witnessed. My 
joke had succeeded beyond my most sanguine an- 



106 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 

ticipations. I was so convulsed with the ridicu- 
lous situation that I was voted to be the jolliest 
fellow alive. It was long after closing time when 
the reception broke up and the guests "rolled' : 
out of the back door and led each other home. 

This "wake" ("wake" was the more applicable, 
for the reason that I foresaw somebody's funeral 
should Mary's lover appear) continued up to the 
date set for the other fellow to arrive. On the 
morning of his expected arrival my prospective 
"father-in-law" received a letter from Mary an- 
nouncing that her intended husband would be in 
Cork that day to pay his respects to him. 

Mr. O'Connor nearly had a fit. 

"What in the name of hivens does she mane? 
Has she gone crazy entoirely? Here yer afther 
being here nearly a week and bedad she says yer 
only coming to-day. What does it all mane?" 

In order to avoid unpleasant developments I 
had to explain that "Mary was quite right; that 
when I left her I told her that I was going to Dub- 
lin and would come directly from there to see 
you," and was due to arrive that day. 

I said that I could not stay away any longer 
from Mary and suggested that he should accom- 
pany me to Buttevant and make her a surprise 
visit, to which he readily agreed. 

By this ruse I got 'Connor out of the way be- 
fore my rival arrived, and whom we passed on the 
way. 

On reaching Buttevant I suggested that O'Con- 
nor should remain at a neighboring inn for half 
an hour or so, to give me a chance to greet Mary, 



Memoirs of Prince John Dc Guelph 107 

and also to make the surprise of his visit more 
complete. 

I saw Mary, invited her to have a glass of wine 
and confessed to her the joke that I had played, 
also telling her that I had given the other fellow 
the slip by bringing her father away. 

The whole thing appealed to her humor im- 
mensely, and I thought she would never stop 
laughing. At length she said, "But the other 
John was too slow to see through a fence," and, 
that "he wasn't worth bothering her head about." 

Mr. O'Connor now came in and I was again 
treated as the "real thing" by both Mary and 
her father. Mary could not refrain, however, from 
telling the old gentleman the joke I had played, at 
which he and everybody present roared with 
laughter. 

He very graciously told me that a young fellow 
as bright as I was, was well worthy of Mary. An- 
other round of festivities followed, notwithstand- 
ing that I had not proposed or even made love to 
Mary. 

It was some time before Mary could bring her- 
self to forgive the other fellow for having allowed 
himself to be outwitted in love. 

I had been at recruits' drill a few weeks, when 
one morning while on parade Lt. Col. Bostock, 
the officer commanding the regiment, rode onto the 
parade grounds, a very unusual occurrence at re- 
cruits' drill. 

Riding up to the officer in charge on the oppo- 
site side of the square from that on which my 
squad was drilling, he made some inquiry. The 



108 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

officer in question called to a drill sergeant and 
spoke to him. 

The sergeant, raising his pace stick, pointed 
across the square, singling out the squad to which 
I belonged. The colonel, without paying atten- 
tion to any other squad on the parade ground, 
rode directly to my squad. 

Stopping just out of hearing, he called my drill 
sergeant, who went up and saluted. 

The colonel spoke to him, whereupon the ser- 
geant turned and, calling me by name, called me 
up to the commanding officer. On my saluting 
the colonel, he said, "Your name is John Norman, 
is it not?" 

I replied, saying, ' ' My name is George Norman, 
sir." (I had enlisted under the name of George 
Norman and dropped the John for the obvious 
reason that I did not wish to be discovered by my 
guardians, being still a minor, although wearing 
the Queen's uniform.) 

The colonel looked surprised. l ' George ! " he ex- 
claimed; "I thought it was John?" "George, 
sir," I replied. 

As though not satisfied, he unfastened his tunic 
and drew a letter partly out of his pocket. Then, 
on second thought, he thrust it back, saying as he 
did so, "Oh, well, George, then." 

He then said, "Now, George, you are a bright 
young fellow, and must be pushed rapidly for- 
ward. You must be promoted at once, and in the 
course of two or three years you ought to receive 
a commission. Immediately you are dismissed 
from this parade, go to your Pay Sergeant and tell 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 109 

him that it is by my orders that an application is 
to be sent in to-day for you to be made a Lance- 
Corporal. The Captain of your Company will sign 
the application, and you will be in orders to-day. ' ' 

Here was a revelation ! 

Why had the Colonel come onto the parade 
ground at the nine o'clock recruits' drill for the 
express purpose of singling me out from some 
two hundred recruits, most of whom were further 
advanced in drill, having been longer in the regi- 
ment? 

Why the mistake in the given name, John, when 
George was the name on the roll ? 

Why his surprise at the "George?" 

What had the letter in his pocket to do with 
settling the name? 

He had just received the morning mail, and it 
was evident that he had received some communi- 
cation from somebody, which called for prompt 
attention. 

While I regretted to discover that I had not 
eluded the "powers that be," it was a matter of 
relief to know that I was not likely to be inter- 
fered with, as was shown by the Colonel's de- 
clared intention to push me forward rapidly, with 
a view to my obtaining a commission in the brief 
period of three years. 

I saw through the whole thing. The intention 
of those responsible for that communication and 
visit of the commanding officer, in wishing to see 
me rapidly promoted was very good. But I could 
not forget that I had been robbed of my legitimate 
birthright, and that I had spurned the miserable 



110 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

pittance allowed for my support as a child, and I 
wanted no promotion at their hands or through 
their influence. I therefore replied to the Colonel, 
thanking him for the honor done me, and for his 
good wishes, but begged to be allowed to decline 
his offer, on the ground that "the first duty of a 
soldier is to learn to obey, ,, and that "he who 
would command must first learn to obey," and 
that in my opinion a recruit with but a few weeks 
service, who had not yet learned his drill, was 
not fitted to command soldiers with twenty years ' 
experience and service. 

The Colonel tried to talk me out of it, but I was 
firm, and refused absolutely to take promotion 
for upwards of three years. I was then promoted 
without my knowledge or consent, which was in 
India. There was nothing for me to do but to 
obey the published orders of the commanding 
officer. 



CHAPTER XII 

AMUSING STORIES OF A SOLDIER 's LIFE IN IRELAND 

WITH COL. HILLIER ON SPIKE ISLAND OUTBREAK 

OF CONVICTS 1 PLAY THE ROLE OF COM- 
MANDER OF CORK HARBOR 

An amusing incident which occurred while my 
regiment was stationed at Buttevant, was when I 

joined Sergeant P in a practical joke, which 

we played upon his beautiful and charming wife. 
and by which the Sergeant hoped to cure her of 
a most trying fault. , 

Sergeant William P had been in charge of 

the mess and was a most congenial comrade. 

Mrs. P was a woman of many accomplish- 
ments and most fascinating, but she was of an 
extremely jealous nature. 

I was frequently a visitor at the P resi- 
dence, which was outside of the barracks, and much 
enjoyed Mrs. P 's general topic of conversa- 
tion, "Billy and his flirting propensities." 

A lady in high life,* who was blamed for demor- 
alizing the German Army, is reported to have said, 
"One does not look for virtue in a soldier." 



*" Private Lives of Kaiser William II and his Consort" by 
Henry W. Fischer. 

Ill 



112 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Had the Duchess met "Billy" P 

she would probably not have set up such a defense, 
for "Billy" was an exemplary little fellow. 

Mrs. P spent a great deal of time and lost 

a lot of sleep watching her beloved spouse. 

Almost any day or night at the hour Billy was 

expected to be off duty, Mrs. P might be found 

waiting to escort him home. 

One fine afternoon word reached Mrs. P 's 

ears that a beautiful young lady was spending the 
afternoon with Sergeant P in the mess. 

Mrs. P lost no time in making her way to 

the mess. 

She was not unexpected. Billy espied her from 
the window as she was crossing the barrack square. 
The young lady also looked from the window and 

was observed by Mrs. P , who quickened her 

pace. The young lady opened the front door ; es- 
cape was impossible from that direction, Mrs. 

P being too near, and at that instant started 

on the "double-quick." Slamming the front door 
the girl, accompanied by Billy, beat a hasty retreat 
from the back door. It was a case of ' ' follow the 
leader" around the barracks, through the ser- 
geant's mess, in and out of different company 
rooms, until, finally, the culprits reached the bar- 
racks gate with Mrs. P less than thirty yards 

behind. 

The public thoroughfare being reached, Billy 
and his fair companion felt somewhat relieved. 
They dashed across to an adjacent hotel, Mrs. 

P in close pursuit. Without waiting to answer 

questions the pair hurried past the astonished 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 113 

hotel clerks and through the back door, as Mrs. 

P entered the front; and so the merry chase 

continued for well-nigh an hour, through streets 
and alleys, public houses and hotels, until poor 

Mrs. P was almost exhausted and began to 

lose ground. The scene created much amusement 
through the town. 

The more the people laughed the more exasper- 
ated Mrs. P became, and finally gave up in 

despair and made her way home. 

I was enjoying a quiet chat with Sergeant P 

in the front parlor of the sergeant's residence 

when Mrs. P came in. With a scream of rage 

she flew at Billy, seizing his hair in one hand and 
his long moustache in the other she pulled and 
shook him nearly out of his boots. 

For many years Sergeant P had been proud 

to boast of possessing the longest, heaviest and 
most "fetching" moustache in the British Army. 

The above was the only occasion that I ever 
heard him curse this flowing ornament as a mis- 
fortune. 

Mrs. P commenced a tirade of abuse at the 

unfortunate Billy ; and accused him of his perfidy. 

Now, Billy and I were chums, and I naturally 

tried to pacify Mrs. P , assuring her that I 

had been in her husband's company the entire 
afternoon, and had not left him for a single mo- 
ment ! I was, therefore, confident that he had not 
been in the company of any young lady. 

Mrs. P was indignant and asked me if I 

thought she was "craz3^ or dreaming," to which 
I rather ungallantly replied, "Possibly a little of 



114 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

both. Jealousy, carried to extremes, can hardly 
be said to be a normal condition, and, unless you 
can show me the girl I shall have to conclude that 
you were either dreaming or very much mistaken." 

Mrs. P said she would very much like to 

have the opportunity to show me the girl. If she 
had that opportunity the girl would fare very much 
worse than Billy had done. 

On being asked if she would know the girl if 
she saw her, she replied that she would know her 
the moment she set eyes on her ; and at once pro- 
ceeded to describe her dress, hat, and general ap- 
pearance, remarking that the hat worn by the girl 
was very similar to one of her own. 

I thought it time to withdraw to give husband 
and wife an opportunity to talk the matter over, 
as I did not wish to interfere in their domestic 
affairs. I left, promising to return within half an 
hour. 

I adjourned to an adjoining room and proceeded 
to change my military uniform for the petticoats, 
gown, hat, and wig, which I had discarded less than 
two minutes prior to Mrs. P 's return home. 

On giving the finishing touches to my toilet I 
stepped from the house, only to ring the front- 
door bell. A moment later, and, lo, the rivals 
stood glaring at each other through the open door. 

Had it not been for a roar of laughter from Ser- 
geant P at the psychological moment the poor 

"girl" would have fared very badly at the hands 
of a jealous wife. 

The game was up ; but it was worth the playing. 
Mrs. P laughed until she became hysterical. 



Memoirs of Prince John l>e G-uelph 115 

She declared that she would never again watch 
Billy — she was cured of jealousy. 

My regiment was now ordered to Athlone, where 
rny life as a British soldier continued to be a happy 
one, replete with amusing incidents and pleasant 
memories. 

While stationed there I had occasion, one even- 
ing, to go to the kitchen in the officers' mess, at 
dinner time, to ascertain the cause of delay in 
sending up the various courses. It was my duty 
to supervise this function. 

I found the cook, Cook by name and cook by na- 
ture, as well as by occupation, weighing some- 
where in the neighborhood of three hundred and 
forty pounds, and with a face like a Christmas 
pudding, considerably the worse for liquor, ag- 
gravated perhaps by the heat of the range. 

This, however, being his natural condition, it 
would have been a matter of surprise to have 
found him in any other state. Indeed, the very 
possibility of finding Mr. Cook sober reminds me 
of a chief officer of a certain vessel, who, having 
been frequently reprimanded by his Captain, was 
finally entered on the log for drunkenness. In 
vain he pleaded the following day to have the 
charge erased from the log. The Captain was 
firm, and asked, "Is it true that you were drunk!" 
"Yes, it is true," replied the mate, "but you 
might take it off." "Well," replied the Captain, 
"if it is true, it stands on the log." Repeated en- 
treaties failed to move the Captain. Some morn- 
ings later the Captain, on looking at the log, after 
relieving the mate, was astonished to find the fol- 



116 Memoirs of Prince John Dc Guelph 

lowing entry: ''Captain Smith was sober to-day." 
The indignant Captain called for the mate and 
demanded that the obnoxious entry be forthwith 
removed from the log. "Is it true?" thundered 
the mate. "Of course it is true, you lubber." 
"Very well, then," rejoined the mate, "if it is 
true, it stands on the log." 

In all my experience in the officers' mess with 
Mr. Cook, both of Cork and Athlone, I found no 
opportunity to make any such entry as that made 
against the Captain. 

I remonstrated with the cook for the dilatory 
manner in which dinner was being served. 

He was in the act of removing the "Jack" from 
the front of the range and then proceeded to empty 
the fat from the large tin dripping pan into a 
pan in the larder. As he was skimming the fat 
with a spoon, he continued his tirade of abuse, 
which was too much for my young blood to stand. 
Placing my hand on the top of his head, I ducked 
his head into the dripping fat. The hot fat caused 
him to splutter and bawl. In taking his head from 
the pan, the fat soon became cool on his face, 
forming a mask back to his ears and under his 
chin. 

The commotion caused by this little incident 

brought the caterer, Mr. S to the scene. 

Mr. S , like the cook, had his load to carry, 

and was inclined to be boisterous. He insisted 
upon the cook going directly to the mess room to 
report the matter to Captain Wickham, the presi- 
dent of the mess committee, and show him the evi- 
dence of the assault upon him, namely, the mask 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 117 

of fat. Foreseeing the amusement it would cause 
in the mess room, I encouraged him to do so, and 
myself offered to inform the Captain that the cook 
desired to see him. 

I accordingly preceded the cook to the mess 
room, explaining to Captain Wickham that the 
cook wished to see him, and in response to his 
inquiry as to what the cook wanted to see him 
about, I said, "The usual thing— drinking, and 
had his own grievances. He overbalanced himself 
while emptying the fat into the dripping pan and 
buried his face in the fat (this loud enough to 
be heard by all the officers present. He now thinks 
that I pushed his head into the dripping pan." I 
requested Captain Wickham to see him. 

The officers left the mess room en masse to in- 
spect the cook, who had by this time struggled up 
to the ante-room. His appearance caused a roar 
of laughter from the younger officers. Captain 
Wickham, after having listened to his complaint, 
ordered the cook downstairs and to bed as the 
best place to sleep off both the drink and the fat. 

Soon after my arrival in Cork I was some 
months in the hospital, suffering with my eyes. 

On leaving the hospital Lt.-Col. Hillier, who had 
been appointed officer commanding Cork harbor, 
sent for me, and said that he would be glad if I 
would go with him to Spike Island to take charge 
of him and his bachelor apartments. He thought 
the sea air would benefit me. This was in 1878. 

Spike Island is the headquarters of the officer 
commanding Cork harbor, and a great convict set- 
tlement. At that time there were a number of the 



118 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

noted Fenian leaders in that convict settlement, 
some of whom were afterwards pardoned and are 
now living in New York and other places in 
America. 

Some little time after Colonel Hillier took over 
command an outbreak occurred one night. The 
alarm was sounded, the troops turned out and the 
officer of the day and staff officer called for the 
officer commanding. He was absent from the 
Island, having gone to Cork. He had not, however, 
notified other officers of his absence. I, there- 
fore, at the age of seventeen, assumed the respon- 
sibility of the officer commanding Cork Harbor. 

Leaving the officers at the door I went to the 
Colonel's rooms under the pretense of calling him, 
and getting orders. I then went back to the staff 
officer and gave the supposed commands of the 
officer commanding for the necessary action to be 
taken by the troops to suppress the outbreak. I 
added that the Colonel was getting up and would 
be on the ground as soon as possible. In the 
meantime I myself would come up with any other 
commands that he might have. I pointed out that, 
as the Colonel weighed some twenty odd stone, 
and was afflicted with the gout, both in mind and 
body, it would take him some little time to get 
to the scene of action. 

I followed the officers up to the scene of trouble 
and gave another command to a staff officer, as 
though the same came from the officer command- 
ing the Harbor. 

The riot was quelled before the Colonel returned 
to the Island. Having sent a message to him at 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 119 

the beginning of the outbreak, I met him at the 
landing, and, in response to his inquiry if the next 
senior officer had assumed command, I said, "No. 
The officer commanding Cork Harbor was in com- 
mand and gave the necessary orders." He looked 
dumbfounded. "The officer commanding Cork 
Harbor, sir?" "The Devil! The officer com- 
manding Cork Harbor was in Cork, and not in 
Spike Island. How the h— then, could he give 
commands I " I informed him that as I understood 
he was absent without leave, I did not care to see 
him called upon to explain, and that I had accord- 
ingly taken command myself, but that none of the 
officers were aware of his absence from the Is- 
land ; whereupon he roared with laughter, and jok- 
ingly threatened to court martial me for imper- 
sonating the officer commanding. 

He said afterwards, he wondered "what some 

of those d Fenians would think if .they knew 

that their desperate attempt to escape had been 
successfully suppressed by the troops in command 
of a boy." 

My friend, Colonel Hillier, was later gazetted 
to the command of the Second Battalion of the 
Bedfordshire Eegiment in India. He asked me if 
I would go to India with him. I said that I would 
be glad to go if he went. I asked him if he seri- 
ously contemplated going ; to which he replied that 
he did, if he had to "walk all the way." Later, 
however, on my asking him when he expected to 
leave for India, he asked me if I thought he had 
' ' no better sense than to go to India and be roasted 
alive." He did not go, but retired. 



120 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

I accordingly rejoined my regiment in Cork. 
During my two years and three months ' service in 
Ireland, I was on Staff employ for two years. 

In 1878 I volunteered for active service when 
war was expected with Russia, which country was 
mobilizing a large army on the frontier of Af- 
ghanistan, threatening to invade India; and 
whose agents were active in stirring up trouble in 
Afghanistan, which finally led to the Afghan War, 
and threatening Bulgaria and Constantinople at 
the same time. 

The reserves were called out, and there was 
great excitement in the barracks. Men were eager 
to get a slap at Russia. A large number of men 
were sent out from my regiment to the Afghan 
War, but for some reason the doctor passed me as 
"unfit" for active service. From words passed 
by the officers of my own company, and from the 
conduct of the army surgeon, I was of the opinion 
that somebody was responsible for preventing my 
going to the front, and I so expressed myself in 
rather indignant terms to the army surgeon. 

Some of the reserves were drafted to my regi- 
ment, among them an Irish sergeant, who cre- 
ated much amusement. One day when orderly ser- 
geant he went to take the regimental orders in the 
usual way. It was his duty to read the orders to 
the company the same evening. He did not do so, 
for reasons found out the next day at the com- 
manding officer's parade. 

After the inspection of the company, by the Cap- 
tain, he called for the order book, and, opening it, 
said, "Pay attention to orders." Looking at the 



Memoirs of Prince Jtlm Be Guelph 121 

book, he read, l ' Regimental Orders. ' ' He stopped, 
called for the Lieutenant and asked him to read 
the orders. The Lieutenant, upon looking at the 
book, begged to be excused. The Pay-Sergeant 
was then called and instructed to read the orders. 
The Pay-Sergeant looked at the book and gasped ! 
The Captain asked the latter, "Who wrote those 
orders ? " to which the Pay-Sergeant replied, ' ' The 
orderly sergeant." "Then make the orderly ser- 
geant read them," said the Captain. 

Sergeant Flynn came forward, and the Captain 
asked if he had written the orders, to which Ser- 
geant Flynn replied, "Yis, sorr." "Well, read 
them, then," said the Captain in disgust. Sergeant 
Flynn staggered the Captain by the following 
reply : 

"And indade, sorr, I had the divil's own job to 
write them. I tried to read thim to the company 
last night, but the divil of a word could I make 
out of thim. I 'd be af ther asking you to excuse me 
this toime. I think the parade would be dismissed 
before I could get through with the first line." 
He was excused. 



CHAPTER XIII 

SPIKE ISLAND UNIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE — THE SOR- 
ROWS OF IRELAND PORTRAYED IN CHAINS INHU- 
MAN EVICTIONS, STARVATION, PESTILENCE AND 

DEATH MY SOUL STIRRED WITH PITY, 

I TAKE UP THE BURDEN OF MY 
MOTHER^ ANCESTRAL HOME 

My experience on Spike Island gave me food for 
deep reflection. 

To stand and watch the heavily chained gangs of 
desperate convicts as they passed to and from 
Spike Island and neighboring Islands to labor and 
back to their dormitories to sleep ; and to visit the 
scene of their servitude, caused me to ponder on 
the lot of the convict. 

For what causes had this large body of men been 
sentenced to long terms, many for life, to this 
convict settlement? 

What was the cause of so much violent crime in 
Ireland ? 

In a country well governed, the industries and 
trades protected, would mean prosperity ; and men 
would surely rather labor in peace and enjoy do- 
mestic happiness and prosperity than turn to vio- 
lent crime to be banished to penal servitude, 
chained like animals on a desolate island. 
122 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 123 

Investigation soon satisfied me that the devel- 
opment of the natural resources of Ireland had 
been retarded, her manufacturing, agricultural, 
and other industries ruined ; the tenants were un- 
able to meet their rents, and were in consequence 
being evicted in large numbers. Famine and pes- 
tilence stalked throughout the land. 

I have already stated that the daily witnessing 
of thousands of heavily fettered convicts moving 
along in silent procession, the only sound being 
the clank of the chains which could be heard for 
some considerable distance, caused me to study 
the subject very seriously. 

The distress then prevailing in Ireland, and 
which in the following year, 1879, was probably 
greater than at any time since the famine of 1847, 
led me to seek the cause. 

In order to acquire any adequate knowledge of 
the prevailing conditions of poverty, it was neces- 
sary that I should familiarize myself with the 
history of Ireland, and more particularly with the 
agricultural and manufacturing industries of the 
past. 

I must confess that when I read the history of 
the suffering of the Irish people and the grossly 
unjust manner in which that unfortunate country 
had been ruled and its people persecuted I could 
not help but weep for Ireland. 

The terrible famine and plague which fell upon 
Ireland in 1846 should have appealed to the Brit- 
ish Parliament and to the British people ; for, not- 
withstanding, all the talk about the Anglo-Saxon 



1!^ Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

race, the people of the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland are in reality of Celtic descent, 
Celtic blood largely predominating in England as 
in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. 

It is a blot upon the British Parliament and the 
British race that the same tyrannical feudal system 
of landlordism should have been permitted to con- 
tinue after the appalling experience which devas- 
tated Ireland during the famine of 1846 and 1847, 
and the plague that followed. Where two in a 
family died from starvation, whole families were 
swept away by the plague. 

It is not my purpose to give in these Memoirs 
a history of the terrible sufferings of that country 
from that time up to 1877-79, the time of my so- 
journ there. In order to make clear to the public 
what led me to determine to devote my attention 
to the emancipation of Ireland from economic 
starvation, I will give a few illustrations of the ter- 
rible conditions in that country from 1846 to 1879. 

In 1846 the Inspectors-General of Prisons re- 
ported that the committals in that year over the 
year 1845 sometimes amounted to one hundred 
per cent.; and further reported that ''in a very 
great number of instances small crimes have been 
committed for the purpose of obtaining that sup- 
port in prison which could not be procured else- 
where."* 

The prisons became to the starving nation the 
only harbor of refuge. 

As the suffering became more acute, sheep steal- 



♦"Census Commissioners" p. 304. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 125 

ing and violent crime increased to an amazing 
extent. When industrious, honest, self-respecting 
men are driven to such a condition of starvation 
that they deem themselves most fortunate should 
they succeed in being sentenced to transportation 
for a long term of years, the Government of such 
a nation stands arraigned and condemned before 
the tribunal of Almighty God, the King of Kings. 

In the year 1847 the Inspectors-General of Pris- 
ons reported "the terrible catastrophe which has 
disorganized the whole framework of society in 
Ireland, fell with its full force on establishments 
under our charge. Disease and death increased to 
a degree that could never be contemplated by those 
acquainted with the usual orderly and healthy 
state of our jails. The crowding together of 
12,883 prisoners in jails calculated to contain 
5,655 increased the deaths in Irish prisons in a 
single year from 131 to 1,315." * 

Dr. Browne of the Castlebar jail wrote in 
March, "Our county jail was crowded to more 
than double its capacity, those committed being in 
a state of nudity, filth, and starvation. By the end 
of April we were in a state of actual pestilence 
(typhus fever). Every hospital servant was at- 
tacked, and from our wretched over-crowded state 
the mortality was fearful — fully forty per cent. 
. . . Not a few of those committed were in- 
mates of the fever wards a few hours after com- 
mittal, "t 



* Census Commissioners pp. 300-301. 
tCensus Commissioners pp. 304-305. 



126 Memoirs of Prince John De Gudph 

"In the year 1848 the increase of committals 
over those of 1847 was 34,105." * 

The Census Commissioner's report on number 
of deaths from fever (Tables of Death, page 243), 
comments : 

1. "No pen has recorded the number of the 
forlorn and starving who perished by the wayside 
or in the ditches, or the mournful groups, some- 
times of whole families, who lay down and died 
one after the other upon the floor of their miser- 
able cabin, and so remained uncoffined and un- 
buried till chance unveiled the appalling scene." 

Justin McCarthy, at that time a reporter on the 
Cork Examiner, related incidents of the horrors 
he witnessed at that time. 

The sinister hinged coffin, invented to keep up 
a semblance of Christian decency in burying the 
dead, served for an indeterminable number of 
corpses to be passed through. 

In Skibbereen I saw the sites of two large pits, 
into which hundreds of victims were buried with- 
out coffins, or were passed through the hinged 
coffin into the pits. 

The years 1848 and 1849 were as bad as that of 



•The Inspectors-General of Prisons report included the fol- 
lowing:— "The calamitous visitation of the last few years, 
operating with no exclusive pressure — affecting the most opu- 
lent and the humblest poor alike — suspending employment 
and staying the hand of charity has sorely tried the integrity 
of our people. Larcenies have multiplied, because ordinarily 
men will steal food rather than die." Report of Inspectors- 
General of Prisons: — "Census Commissioner's Tables of 
Deaths," p. 311. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 127 

1847, the official death roll being higher in 1849 
than in 1847. 

The total number of deaths reported from chol- 
era and other epidemics in 1849 was 240,797, and 
from zymotic diseases 123,386. 

The foregoing is but a meagre description of 
the horrors of the famine and pestilence which 
devastated Ireland in 1847, 1848, and 1849. 

The famine and plague can only be attributed 
to the feudal landlords, or, to go to the real source, 
to the British Parliament, through the violation 
of the terms of the Act of Union, thus making such 
barbarous treatment of tenants possible. 

Humanity demanded that tenants should have 
been protected during the period of famine. Rents 
should have been reduced, or cancelled, as is cus- 
tomary with English landlords. But, what was 
done in Ireland 1 I can not go into details to show 
how hundreds of thousands of people were driven 
from their homes to starve or die from pestilence 
throughout the country, even where no rent was 
due. 

The Blue Book, No. 1089, on "Reports and Re- 
turns Relating to Evictions in the Kilrush Union, 
1849, p. 3, by Captain Kennedy, serves to show the 
enormity of the crime against this helpless famine 
stricken people. 

The report covers the period from Nov. 25, 1847, 
to June 19, 1849. I only give a few extracts from 
Captain Kennedy's report. They tell their own 
story : 

"November 25, 1847. — An immense number of 



128 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

small landholders are under ejectment, or notice 
to quit, even where the rents have been paid up. 

"February 11, 1848.— . . . Upwards of 120 
houses have been "tumbled" on one property 
within a few weeks, containing families to a 
greater number, many of whom are burrowing be- 
hind the ditches, without the means of procuring 
shelter. 

"March 16, 1848. — We admitted a considerable 
number of paupers, among whom were some of the 
most appalling cases of destitution and suffering 
it has ever been my lot to witness. The state of 
most of these wretched creatures is traceable to 
the numerous evictions which have lately taken 
place in the union. When driven from their cabins 
they betake themselves to the ditches or the shelter 
q£ some bank, and there exist like animals, till 
st ition or the inclemency of the weather drives 
them to the workhouse. There were three cart- 
loads of these creatures, who could not walk, 
brought for admission yesterday, some in fever, 
some suffering from dysentery, and all from want 
of food. 

"April 6, 1848. — While hundreds are being 
turned out houseless and helpless daily on small 
property in Killard division, no less than twenty- 
three houses, containing probably one hundred 
souls, being tumbled in one day, March 27 ; I believe 
the extent of land occupied with these twenty- three 
houses did not exceed fifty acres. The suffering 
and misery attendant upon these wholesale evic- 
tions is indescribable. The number of houseless 
paupers in this union is beyond my calculation; 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 129 

those evicted crowd neighboring cabins and vil- 
lages, and disease is necessarily generated. On its 
first appearance the wretched sufferer, and prob- 
ably the whole family to which he or she belongs, 
is ruthlessly turned out on the roadside. The 
popular dread of dysentery seems to excuse any 
degree of inhumanity. The workhouse and tempo- 
rary hospital are crowded to the utmost extent 
they can possibly contain; the crowding of the 
fever hospital causes me serious anxiety. The re- 
lieving officer has directions to send no more in: 
yet, notwithstanding this caution, panic-stricken 
and unnatural parents frequently send in a don- 
key-load of children in fever a distance of four- 
teen or fifteen miles for admission. How to dis- 
pose of them I know not. 

"April 8, 1848.— I calculate that 6,000 houses 
have been levelled since November, and expe^.. JO 
more before July. 

' ' July 5, 1848. — Twenty thousand, or one-fourth 
of the population, are now in receipt of daily food, 
either in or out of the workhouse. Disease has 
unfortunately kept pace with destitution, and the 
high mortality at one period since last November, 
in and out of the workhouse, was most distressing. 
I have frequently been astonished by the sudden 
and unexpected pressure from certain localities; 
this naturally induced an inquiry into the causes, 
and eventually into a general review of the whole 
union. The result of this inquiry has convinced 
me that destitution has been increased, and its 
character fearfully aggravated by the system, of 
wholesale evictions which has been adopted; that 



ISO Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

a fearful amount of disease and mortality has also 
resulted from the same causes, I can not doubt, 
I have painful experience of it daily. [The italics 
are mine.] To make this understood, I may 
state, in general terms, that about 900 houses, 
containing probably 4,000 occupants, have been 
levelled in this union since last November. The 
wretchedness, ignorance and helplessness of the 
poor on the western coast of this union pre- 
vent them seeking a shelter elsewhere; and, to 
use their own phrase, "they don't know where 
to face"; they linger about the localities for 
weeks or months, burrowing behind the ditches, 
under a few broken rafters of their former dwell- 
ing, refusing to enter the workhouse till the 
parents are broken down and the children half 
starved, when they come into the workhouse to 
swell the mortality one by one. Those who obtain 
a temporary shelter in adjoining cabins are not 
more fortunate. Fever and dysentery shortly 
make their appearance, when those affected are 
put out by the roadside as carelessly and ruth- 
lessly as if they were animals; when frequently 
after days and nights of exposure, they are sent 
in by the relieving officers when in a helpless state. 
These inhuman acts are induced by the popular 
terror of fever. I have frequently reported cases 
of this sort. The misery attendant upon these 
wholesale and simultaneous evictions is frequently 
aggravated by hunting these ignorant, helpless 
creatures off the property, from which, perhaps, 
they have never wandered five miles. It is not an 
unusual occurrence to see forty or fifty houses 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 131 

levelled in one day, and orders given that no re- 
maining tenant or occupier should give them even 
a night's shelter. I have known some ruthless 
acts committed by drivers and sub-agents, but 
no doubt, according to law (the law of Christian 
England!) however repulsive to humanity; 
wretched hovels pulled down, where the in- 
mates were in a helpless state of fever and 
nakedness, and left by the roadside for days. As 
many as 300 souls, creatures of the most helpless 
class have been left houseless in one day, and the 
suffering and misery therefrom attributed to in- 
sufficient relief or maladministration of the law: 
it would not be a matter of surprise that it failed 
altogether in such localities as those I allude to. 
"When relieved, charges of profuse expenditure 
are readily preferred. The evicted crowd into the 
back lanes and wretched hovels of the towns and 
villages, scattering disease and dismay in all direc- 
tions. The character of some of these hovels de- 
fies description. I not long since found a widow, 
whose three children were in fever, occupying the 
piggery of their former cabin, which lay beside 
them in ruins ; however incredible it may appear, 
this place they had lived in for weeks, measured 
five feet by four, and of corresponding height. I 
offered her a free conveyance to the workhouse, 
which she steadily refused; her piggery was 
knocked down as soon as her children were able to 
crawl out on recovery ; and she has now gone forth 
a wanderer. I could not induce any neighbor to 
take her in, even for payment; she had medical 
aid, and all necessary relief from the union." 



132 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

When it is borne in mind that the above report 
refers to one union only, the extent of suffering 
throughout the country must have been appalling 
and indescribable. 

What is the manner of the evictions ? 

Let us quote an eye-witness, the Most Reverend 
Dr. Nulty, Lord Bishop of Meath. The event oc- 
curred in September, 1847, near Mount Nugent, 
county Cavan. Dr. Nulty says: 

' ' In the very first year of our ministry, as a Mis- 
sionary Priest in this diocese, we were an eye- 
witness of a cruel and inhuman eviction, which 
even still makes our heart bleed as often as we 
allow ourselves to think of it. 

"Seven hundred human beings were driven 
from their homes in one day and set adrift on the 
world, to gratify the caprice of one who, before 
God and man, probably deserved less considera- 
tion than the last and least of them. And we re- 
member well that there was not a single shilling 
of rent due on the estate at the time, except by 
one man ; and the character and acts of that man 
made it perfectly clear that the agent and himself 
quite understood each other. 

"The Crow-bar Brigade, employed on the occa- 
sion to extinguish the hearths and demolish the 
homes of honest, industrious men, worked away 
with a will at their awful calling until evening. 
At length an incident occurred that varied the mo- 
notony of the grim, ghastly ruin which they were 
spreading all around. They stopped suddenly, and 
recoiled panic-stricken with terror from two dwell- 
ings which they were directed to destroy with the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 133 

rest. They had just learned that a frightful 
typhus fever held those houses in its grasp, and 
had already brought pestilence and death to their 
inmates. They, therefore, supplicated the agent to 
spare these houses a little longer; but the agent 
was inexorable, and insisted that the houses should 
come down. The ingenuity with which he extri- 
cated himself from the difficulties of the situation 
was characteristic alike of the heartlessness of the 
man and of the cruel necessities of the work in 
which he was engaged. He ordered a large win- 
nowing-sheet to be secured over the beds in which 
the fever victims lay — fortunately they happened 
to be perfectly delirious at the time — and then 
directed the houses to be unroofed cautiously and 
slowly, 'because,' he said, 'he very much disliked 
the bother and discomfort of a coroner's inquest.' 
I administered the last sacrament of the church 
to four of these fever victims next day ; and, save 
the above-mentioned winnowing-sheet, there was 
not then a roof nearer to me than the canopy of 
heaven. 

" The horrid scenes I then witnessed I shall re- 
member all my life long. The wailing of women ; 
the screams, the terror, the consternation of chil- 
dren ; the speechless agony of honest, industrious 
men, wrung tears of grief from all who saw them. 
I saw the officers of a large police force, who were 
obliged to attend on the occasion, cry like children 
at beholding the cruel sufferings of the very peo- 
ple whom they would be obliged to butcher had 
they offered the least resistance. The heavy rains 
that usually attend the autumnal equinoxes de- 



134 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

scended in cold, copious torrents throughout the 
night, and at once revealed to those sufferers the 
awful realities of their condition. I visited them 
next morning, and rode from place administering 
to them all the comfort and consolation I could. 
The appearance of men, women, and children, as 
they emerged from the ruins of their former 
homes — saturated with rain, blackened and be- 
smeared with soot, shivering in every member 
from cold and misery — presented positively the 
most appalling spectacle I ever looked at. The 
landed proprietors in a circle all around — and for 
many miles in every direction — warned their ten- 
antry, with threats of their direst vengeance, 
against the humanity of extending to any of them 
the hospitality of a night's shelter. Many of these 
poor people were unable to emigrate with their 
families; while, at home, the hand of every man 
was raised against them. They were driven 
from the land on which Providence had placed 
them; and, in the state of society surrounding 
them, every other walk of life was rigidly closed 
to them. What was the result? After battling 
in vain with privation and pestilence, they at last 
graduated from the workhouse to the tomb; and 
in little more than three years, nearly a fourth of 
them lay quietly in their graves." 

The foregoing gruesome history of 1847- '48- '49 
will serve to give the reader some idea of the suf- 
ferings in Ireland during the time that I was there, 
1877-79. 

The famine and evictions, while not so bad as 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 135 

the famine and pestilence of 1847- '48- '49, was suf- 
ficiently heartrending to make a lifelong impres- 
sion upon me. The wholesale evictions and the 
heartless manner in which the people were thrown 
out of their homes proved that the Irish landlords 
of 1879 were as barbarous and inhuman as they 
were in 1846- '47- '48 and '49. 

The more closely I have followed the Irish ques- 
tion during the years which have intervened since 
I sailed from Cork to India, on September 29, 
1879, the more I have blushed for shame for the 
manner in which the British Parliament has op- 
posed every measure introduced for the ameliora- 
tion of the condition of the people of Ireland. 

The late Charles Stuart Parnell and other 
champions of the Irish cause were subjected to all 
manner of unjust treatment as representatives 
in the House of Commons by their bigoted oppo- 
nents, who, rather than allow a measure to pass the 
House, have suspended Irish members, stooped to 
diabolical intrigue such as tiring out the few faith- 
ful Patriots by extended sessions of thirty-six 
hours or more, which was nothing to the plotters, 
who arranged for relays or reliefs of their own 
party. 

They did not hesitate to throw these gentlemen 
into prison or even to transport them to Spike Is- 
land, Dartmoor or other convict settlements, un- 
der the barbarous and absurd Act the 34, Edward 
III of 1360 (obsolete in Great Britain but still in 
force in Ireland). 

To what can we attribute the cause of this suf- 
fering, misery, injustice, persecution and misrule? 



136 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

The answer to the first part of the question is 
illustrated in the two following paragraphs; and 
the answer to the latter part of the question will 
be found in the next chapter. 

The great number of silk-hatted and frock- 
coated commercial travelers met with in Ireland, 
representing English manufacturers and whole- 
sale houses tells its own story. The trade was 
practically in the hands of the English. The poor 
Irish salesmen in their plain attire failed to pro- 
duce the psychological impression upon the shop- 
keeper that the English dandies made upon them. 

It is an old saying that ' ' there is something rot- 
ten in the State of Denmark. ' ' 

Since the introduction of Alexandra, and with 
her, the Danish rule in England in 1863 there has 
been something rotten in Ireland. Danish influ- 
ence at the English Court is responsible for the 
Danish invasion of the English market, to which 
Ireland owes much of its poverty and distress. 
While Ireland has suffered for many years, there 
is no parallel in the history of the misery of her 
people since that time, as is shown by the fact that 
there were two hundred thousand evictions during 
the reign of my grandmother, the late Queen Vic- 
toria, and by the terrible scenes enacted against 
the Land League and other organizations estab- 
lished by Irish patriots for the protection of the 
honor of their hearth and home. 

The application of the absurd Act 34 Edward 
III of 1360 (see paper on Empire Reform League 
and Addenda) to suppress the efforts of such men 
as Charles Stuart Parnell, Michael Davitt and 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 137 

others, by throwing them into prison without trial, 
reflected upon the Government rather than upon 
the noble "offenders." 

Some idea of the sufferings of the people in Ire- 
land during my three years' sojourn in that coun- 
try may be gathered from the following figures 
showing the depreciation in the potato crop from 
1876 to 1879 : 

VALUE.* 

1876 £12,464,382 

1877 5,271,822 

1878 7,579,512 

1879 3,341,512 

The average crop for ten years was 60,752,918 
cwts. The crop for 1879 was 22,273,520 cwts. 

The official record of evictions for the same 
years was as follows : f 

1876 1,269 

1877 1,323 

1878 1,749 

1879 2,667 

Thus there was no mercy shown by the Irish 
landlords to the famine stricken tenants. Under 
such conditions it is little wonder that violent 
crime should have been prevalent, or that men of 
principle should stand for liberty and justice. 

The painful impressions which I took with me 



*Thaw's Directory. 
tHealy, p. 2. 



138 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

from Ireland have remained with me throughout 
my life. 

The agrarian difficulties have since been ad- 
justed by legislation, and the economic conditions 
much improved, but through my present political 
campaign I hope to further help that long-suffer- 
ing people, on lines set out in the communications 
published in the addenda hereto. (See paper on 
"The Empire Reform League.") 



CHAPTER XIV 

QUEEN VICTORIA^ PRO-GERMAN POLICY CAUSE OF OP- 
PRESSION IN IRELAND PROCLAMATION FOR 

THE EMANCIPATION OF IRELAND 

If evidence be wanted to prove the pro-German 
policy of my grandmother, the late Queen Victoria, 
for the Government of the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland, to the detriment of the 
latter Kingdom, it is not far to seek. 

I. In the bitter antipathy entertained by her 
Majesty toward the Irish race in general and to 
the Irish Princess Consort of her first-born son, 
Albert Edward Prince of Wales, and to the future 
Celtic King John in particular. 

II. In the readiness with which Her Majesty en- 
couraged the Emperor William's selfish demands 
for something for nothing whereby to strengthen 
the strategic position of Germany— preparatory 
to the German invasion of England ! My grand- 
mother, while tracing her ancestors back to the 
House of David through the ancient Irish Kings, 
was born and brought up under purely German in- 
fluence. Her whole character and make-up was 
German. She could wed none other than a Ger- 
man ; and she wedded as many as possible of her 
children to Germans. The Deceased Wife's Sis- 

139 



140 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ter's Bill was her pet hobby. She wanted it passed 
in order that she might then marry the Princess 
Beatrice to the Reigning Grand Duke of Hesse- 
Darmstadt, the widower of the Princess Alice. 

The Grand-Duke thwarted his irate mother-in- 
law in this scheme by marrying Madame Kalo- 
mine, referred to in another chapter. 

Nothing daunted, the Queen found another Ger- 
man for Beatrice — Prince Henry of Battenberg. 

My poor, dear, autocratic grandmother ! I can 
imagine the scene which occurred when the news 
was first gently broken to her in the Spring of 
1860, that the Consort of her successor would 
mean an Irish Queen in England; and that the 
next generation would see an Irish King, who had 
imbibed Irish principles, Irish virtues, and the 
essence of sympathy for Irish suffering, with his 
mother's milk. 

Little wonder, indeed, that my grandmother 
suddenly remembered that many years previously 
she had promised Canada that her son should visit 
that Colony. The opportune moment had arrived ; 
and Canada was forthwith advised that the Prince 
of Wales was about to make the long promised 
visit. 

Little wonder that my poor dear mother was 
kept virtually a prisoner in Windsor Castle pend- 
ing her accouchement ; small wonder, indeed, that 
that pro-German Queen should have torn from its 
mother's breast the infant Prince, in whom she 
saw the overthrow of her cherished plans for the 
continued German rule over the United Kingdom 
of Great Britain and Ireland. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 141 

To effectively remove the danger of a Celtic 
King, it was necessary that the most drastic meas- 
ures should be taken to remove the infant heir pre- 
sumptive to the throne as far as possible from the 
environments of court life and to keep from him 
all knowledge of his identity and rightful inheri- 
tance. 

While treating upon the subject of Ireland and 
the late Queen's policy in regard to the future of 
Great Britain and Ireland, it may be well to make 
public, to some extent at least, how the Emperor 
William II of Germany fell in with his grand- 
mother's plan in this direction. It is well known 
that William seldom visited his grandmother 
without attempting to wheedle some concession 
from her, even though it might be nothing more 
than a coaling station for his fleet. 

That William was familiar with Queen Vic- 
toria's pro-German policy may be seen from his 
cunning but ill-conceived plans for the invasion of 
Great Britain. 

England has had an acute attack of Germana- 
phobia for some time. Let us diagnose this 
dreaded disease. The primary cause is a German 
parasite of abnormal mental proclivities, which 
induce visions of imaginary conquests of British 
Armadas and British strongholds. 

Its attack upon the unprotected and unwary 
Britisher need not necessarily be fatal to the 
Briton. But, like a pest fly tormenting an ele- 
phant, it needs to be swished off with the tail. 

The hallucination from which my deluded cousin 
is suffering is the idea that it is up to him to save 



142 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

the world, or, in other words, to rule the world 
with his imperial right hand. 

Taking advantage of the British misrule in Ire- 
land, and the consequent suffering, starvation and 
the wanton sacrifice of life for centuries past, 
William's agents have been active in condemning 
the injustice of England in insisting upon main- 
taining the Act of Union, the provisions of which 
have been violated with impunity, and which viola- 
tions are responsible for the terrible injustice and 
misery inflicted upon that unhappy country. In- 
deed, William has intimated his willingness, had 
he the power, to give Ireland her independence, 
and the same to Scotland and Wales — under a 
German protectorate of course. He would even go 
so far as to allow England to retain her indepen- 
dence on the same terms — with a German King on 
the English Throne. 

This plan was matured and ready to put into op- 
eration in June, 1902. How? 

I. The death of my father, the late King Ed- 
ward VII was momentarily expected a few days 
following the date set for his coronation. 

II. The nation was pre-occupied with its grief, 
and an invasion at that time would have been a 
complete surprise. 

III. The military strength and home defenses 
had been materially weakened by the South Afri- 
can War. 

IV. While the British Navy was cruising in 
peaceful waters with a small fleet sleeping in false 
security off Portsmouth, an imposing and for- 
midable German fleet under the command of Prince 




Photograph by Pach Bros., New York 

PRINCE JOHN DE GUELPH 
King-Emperor de Jure Great Britain and Ireland, and India 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 143 

Henry of Prussia was lying in Dublin Bay, Ire- 
land. The presence of the German fleet in Dublin 
Bay at so critical a moment gave rise to no ap- 
prehension in the War office or Admirality. The 
German fleet was merely cruising to give Prince 
Henry a "good time." 

V. Had King Edward VII died at that time it 
requires no stretch of the imagination to see the 
German fleet cross the channel; to hear Prince 
Henry of Prussia proclaimed King of England! 
That such was William's programme I learned 
from reliable authority shortly after my father's 
recovery, when I was in San Francisco. 

VI. The German invasion of England under the 
conditions prevailing at that time would have been 
a "dress parade" affair, and the Germanizing of 
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, as separate Kingdoms of England, Ireland 
and Scotland, and the principality of Wales, with 
the Emperor as the actual autocratic ruler, would 
have proceeded with the lightning-like rapidity, 
possible only to one afflicted with the abnormal and 
exaggerated mental visions of a world empire in 
a decade, such as is fast carrying William to the 
unhappy fate of his great uncle. 

Fortunately for the Celtic race, as also for Eng- 
land, and the world at large, William's little plan 
between "Me and Gott" was not destined to meet 
with divine sanction or support. 

As has been seen from the sixty years ' reign of 
the pro-German Queen Victoria, German interests 
are opposed to Irish independence. 

A German protectorate over the proposed in- 



144 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

dependent Celtic kingdoms of Ireland and Scot- 
land and the independent principality of Wales, 
would not benefit the Celtic race in the end, any 
more than German domination in England would 
benefit that country. German influence operates 
for German interests and German interests alone, 
as witness the German Millers' "combination 
rings," paying unfortunate cultivators in India 
from sixty per cent, to seventy-five per cent, of the 
actual cost of production for rice and wheat. 

As such robbery in the name of commerce is re- 
sponsible for the frequent and terrible famines in 
India, the introduction of similar measures in Ire- 
land would be attended by the same disastrous re- 
sults, and the last condition of the Irish race would 
be worse than the first. 

William's agents are again urging a German- 
American-Celtic alliance on the foregoing terms. 

In the interests of my people, being myself Cel- 
tic by birth and lifelong associations, and in the 
interest of peace, I most devoutly pray that the 
Irish people in particular and the Celtic race in 
general will not risk losing their identity by en- 
couraging the introduction of German blood, and 
German rapacity into Ireland. 

The future peace and prosperity of the Celtic 
race lies in their loyalty to their rightful Celtic 
King. 



CHAPTER XV 

I SAIL FOR INDIA INCIDENTS OF VOYAGE 

In the month of August, 1879, I received the 
welcome news that I was, at last, to be drafted to 
India to join the Second Battalion of my regiment 
then stationed at Secunderabad, in the Hydera- 
bad Deccan. 

The number of officers, non-commissioned offi- 
cers and men drafted from the First to the Second 
Battalion with me was about two hundred and 
fifty. The last few weeks we spent in Ireland 
were full of excitement in preparing for foreign 
service. Indian kits were served out, and the men 
about to be drafted obtained leave of absence to 
go to their homes to say good-bye to their parents, 
brothers and sisters and to their sweethearts. 
This latter manifestation of filial love of the sol- 
dier to father and mother awakened very painful 
emotions in my own heart. The soldier, son of the 
very poorest people of the slums of our great 
cities, took his leave of absence with a light 
heart, and, purchasing presents for those whom 
he loved, went home to take a last farewell before 
proceeding to the distant shores of India, from 
which many of them never returned, having fal- 
len victims of cholera, fevers, dysentery and other 

145 



146 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tropical diseases. But I, the first-born son of the 
first gentleman of England, the first peer of the 
realm, the (then) heir apparent to the throne of 
Great Britain and Ireland and the Empire of 
India, was obliged to bury my identity and sup- 
press the emotions of a heart full of sorrow, and 
in response to the solicitations of my officers as 
to whether I did not wish leave of absence to bid 
farewell to my parents, I, the rightful heir-per- 
sumptive to the throne, could only reply, "I have 
no parents to whom to say good-bye." 

I was a member of a regiment a thousand strong, 
but I had to bury my secret sorrow, and had I 
been alone upon that great Egyptian desert I could 
not have been at once cast into greater solitude. 

I had never experienced such a feeling of ut- 
ter loneliness as at that time. I felt like a child 
utterly cast out, and about to depart to a land 
far removed from my dear mother for whose lov- 
ing embrace my heart yearned as never before. 

The 29th day of September, the day for our de- 
parture at length arrived and we entrained at 
Athlone for Cork Harbor and embarked on board 
H. M. Troopship, the Malabar. 

There were on board about twelve hundred 
troops, composed of drafts to various infantry 
and calvary regiments and artillery stationed in 
India. We sailed the same afternoon, Saturday, 
September 29th, 1879. 

We had an uneventful voyage. The monotony 
was broken by the daily parades and inspections, 
watch and other duties, sports, minstrels and 
threatrical entertainments. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 14<7 

Our first clay at sea was made somewhat im- 
pressive by reason of the church service parade, 
which was a strange and novel experience on the 
broad expanse of the ocean. 

On Monday morning, while my mind was pre- 
occupied with the painful reflections of my posi- 
tion, and of the fact that I was exiling myself to 
a. land where I would be still further removed from 
my parents and my birthright, I could not stifle 
the pangs of regret at this cruel separation nor the 
anger that would arise against my grandmother 
for her cruel treatment of my mother and myself. 

This natural indignation was not appeased when 
on answering my regimental bugle call, I found 
myself to be one of a party to swab the deck of 
the ship. 

I looked at the senior sergeant in charge of our 
party, Tom Williams, a man with only a few days 
more service than myself, and whose senior or 
superior I would have been had I accepted my 
commanding officer's offer of promotion more 
than two years before. 

Glancing along the deck of the troopship, I 
observed some sprigs of officers in the Queen's 
uniform whom I concluded would appear to bet- 
ter advantage were they tagged onto their 
mothers' apron strings. 

Here were upstart sons of the gentry and aris- 
tocracy, fresh from Sandhurst with an abnormal 
expansion of chest and head that made the Gen- 
eral and field officers on board look like common 
marines. It is surprising to contemplate the pow- 
er of imagination of some of these young snobs 



148 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

in finding fault with their betters — the trained 
soldiers. 

It was this momentary review of the situation 
and the secret of my false position that gave me 
the first twinge of regret at not having pushed 
myself ahead in my two years' service, during 
which time I could have become quarter-master 
sergeant with a commission in near view. 

As the men were ordered to proceed with the 
swabbing of the deck, Sergeant Williams called 
me from the ranks and said, "You have no busi- 
ness here ; this is no work for you. You had bet- 
ter go down and report yourself to Lieut. Begbie 
of the South Wales Borderers. He wants someone 
to look after him during the voyage. ' ' 

I accordingly made the acquaintance of Mr. 
Begbie, who occupied a cabin with Lieut. Grant on 
the main troop-deck. 

Mr. Grant was already familiarizing himself 
with the pleasures of the first sea-voyage — mal- 
de-mer, and was also very grateful to have my 
assistance. 

So it was that I had the run of the officers' 
saloon, could enjoy the quietude of a private cabin 
and all the privileges of the officers' mess in return 
for looking after the comfort of these two young 
officers. 

As Grant's sea-sickness grew worse from day to 
day, my sympathy led me to try to relieve him. I, 
accordingly, sought advice from a marine who had 
seen much service. 

That worthy recommended a pint tumbler full 
of sea-water, which I accordingly prescribed for 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 149 

poor Grant and saw to it that he took the medi- 
cine. It was in vain that he pleaded to be excused 
from taking the last quarter of the dose. 

I insisted that what he had taken would have no 
beneficial effect unless he took the full dose. Like 
a brave soldier he made a final charge and swal- 
lowed the remains of the tumbler of sea-water, and 
promptly brought up an ocean. I thought poor 
Grant would have died, but laughingly consoled 
him with assurances that he was already looking 
better and would be able to go on deck and get 
the fresh air in another five minutes. 

I gave him a little champagne to settle his 
stomach and to get his mind in more cheerful 
channels than that on which it was set, for he de- 
clared he was dying and would never see his poor 
mother again. 

I would most cheerfully have changed places 
with him, but as that was impossible I further as- 
sisted him in drinking the champagne. 

Whether the remarkable results that followed 
were due to the sea-water, the champagne or my 
good-humored banter I do not pretend to say; I 
accompanied him on deck a few minutes later and 
the sea-sickness passed off. 

Needless to say that when my style of treatment 
leaked out, Grant was made the butt for a good 
many jokes during the voyage. "Jonah," he was 
told, "was spewed up by the whale," but it was 
left for Grant to "spew up the ocean." 

Having been thus transferred to the officers' 
saloon, I was relieved from all military duty and 
enjoyed practically the same advantages as the 



150 Memoirs of Prince John De Gudph 

officers during the voyage, both as regards ac- 
commodation and mess. 

Lieut. Begbie was a devout Christian man and as 
I was similarly inclined I very much enjoyed the 
privacy of his stateroom for meditation and de- 
votion. 

Our first stop was at Gibraltar and our next at 
Malta. Our stay at each of these British military 
stations was only for an hour or so. 

On dropping anchor at Malta the ship was im- 
mediately surrounded by native boats, manned 
by a most picturesque crew of natives. Their 
cargoes consisted of all kinds of fruits, laces, 
shawls, curios, and a variety of other wares. 
While the men and women were doing a great 
trade with the troops on board, the small boys 
caused much amusement by diving to great depths 
after money thrown into the water. 

This was a very amusing but expensive pas- 
time for Tommy Atkins. 

A great number of officers and men had been 
sea-sick during the first part of the voyage and 
many of them had fully recovered, but our ex- 
perience in that direction had been nothing to 
what followed on sailing from Malta. 

There was a heavy swell, which soon caused a 
fermentation of the half ripe fruits ravenously 
consumed by the men in Malta. 

One man who had bought a bunch of bananas, 
not quite half ripe, remarked that he had always 
heard that the banana was a very delicious fruit; 
he had never tasted anything more like mottled 
soap in his life, and if the nobility thought that 



Memoirs of Prince John Do Guelph }$1 

was like custard they were welcome to it; suiting 
the action to the word, he invited a young officer 
to join him with a banana. The subaltern readily 
fell into the trap, just to show that there was no 
ill feeiing toward the "common" sailor, and 
munched heartily at his hard banana with the re- 
sult that he promptly threw it to the fishes. 

When lying in the Suez canal one evening a 
number of officers went ashore and walked across 
the sands in search of game. My friend Lieut. 
Grant, who was one of the party, managed to sep- 
arate himself from the rest and lost his way. 

It was quite late before he eventually got his 
bearings and found his way back to the ship. In 
order not to give an alarm and thereby get himself 
in trouble, Grant swam the canal with his clothes 
on, and came aboard long after midnight like a 
drowned rat. 

The most impressive incident of the voyage to 
the young soldiers was the burial of a comrade in 
mid-ocean. We were prepared to be shot and have 
our bones bleached by a tropical sun, but to be fed 
to the sharks was something that we had not cal- 
culated upon. 

On October 28th, we landed at Bombay, where I 
took farewell of Lieut. Begbie, Grant and others, 
as the members of the different regiments set out 
for different parts of that vast peninsula. 



CHAPTER XVI 

MY WELCOME TO INDIA IN STRIKING CONTRAST TO THAT 
OF MY FATHER — MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE 

LAND OF FAMINE " INDIANS CORAL STRANDS " 

"THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES " THE DYING AND 

THE DEAD — SHAPE MY FUTURE LIFE AND I 
RESOLVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM INCI- 
DENTS OF EARLY MILITARY LIFE 
IN INDIA 

After having breakfasted in the beautiful new 
railway station of Bombay, one of the most mag- 
nificent structures in India, we entrained for 
Poona, where we encamped for about a fort- 
night, before proceeding to join our regiment. 

Poona is a military station, and troops on arri- 
val in India are sometimes quarantined there. We 
eventually proceeded on our way to Secunderabad ; 
leaving Poona in the evening we reached Shaha- 
bad at about eight o'clock the following morning, 
at which station we were to breakfast. 

The terrible sight that I witnessed as our train 
was approaching Shahabad was one that will re- 
main with me as long as I live. That scene which 
extended about half a mile outside of the station 
up to the platform determined the course of my 
life during the whole time I was in India and since. 

152 



Memoirs of Prince JoKn De Guelph 153 

Had our train run into the valley of dry-bones, 
and had those bones come together in the form of 
living skeletons, the sight could not have been 
more appalling. There, before us, were thousands 
of living skeletons, men and women, victims of the 
terrible famine which had carried off more than 
one hundred million of their unfortunate country- 
men during the British occupation of the Em- 
pire. 

These miserable sufferers as they cried for food, 
were beyond the reach of human aid; some of 
them, no doubt, would linger for months or possi- 
bly a year, but their doom was sealed. 

Needless to say that the breakfast of our men 
went further toward quieting the piteous clamor 
of these unfortunate people than toward appeas- 
ing their own appetite. 

This sad experience led me to resolve then and 
there to ascertain the real cause of famines in 
India and to devote my life to overcoming this hor- 
rible curse. 

I was fully aware that the Government was do- 
ing everything possible to stop famines, and that 
I had set myself a stupendous task in trying to do 
in my subordinate position, single-handedly and 
without means, what the British Government had 
not only failed to do with the vast resources at 
their command; but which evil had actually in- 
creased in frequency and severity in spite of all 
the effort of the Government to prevent it. 

As the train pulled out of Shahabad and we left 
these miserable creatures behind I was heart-sick 
at the thought of what the people of that vast 



154 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Empire had suffered and were suffering, under 
our paternal Government. 

It grieved me to think that as this condition of 
things had continued to grow worse for the past 
century, many years must necessarily elapse be- 
fore I could hope to introduce or to bring into 
operation any effective measures to overcome 
these terrible famines. 

I was but a young man, nineteen years of age, 
having no knowledge of India, of the people, of 
the industries or commerce, or of the natural 
resources of the country. 

Knowledge of all these matters had to be ac- 
quired under the greatest possible disadvantages 
and difficulties. I resolved, however, that I would 
not leave India until I had solved the problem. 
In saving India from famine in the future I felt 
that I had a duty that appealed to me as the 
grandson of the Empress of India, far more 
than anything else in the whole of the British Em- 
pire could do. I would rather be there living in 
the humble capacity of a private soldier and en- 
during the privations of a soldier's life to save 
those helpless people from famine than lie in 
luxury and affluence with my royal parents in a 
palace, ignorant of the actual prevailing condi- 
tions of our people. 

Thus my secret sorrow was temporarily ab- 
sorbed in the greater misery of the multitudes of 
India. 

We arrived at Secunderabad on the evening of 
the day that we left Shahabad, which I think was 
the 12th day of November, and joined the head- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 155 

quarters of the regiment, under the command of 
Colonel Wetherall. I was attached to C Com- 
pany, Captain F. F. Johnstone in command. The 
following day we were busy in getting out our 
arms and accoutrements and Indian kits prepara- 
tory to entering upon military duty for the first 
time in India. 

Secunderabad is the chief military station of the 
Hyderabad Deccan, the largest and most impor- 
tant of the feudatory States in India ; it is situated 
about three miles north by west of the capital 
city, Hyderabad. 

The garrison was composed of two British in- 
fantry regiments, one of British calvary and three 
batteries of artillery in addition to one regiment 
of India calvary (Bengal Lancers) and one regi- 
ment of Indian infantry, all British troops. 

The purpose of the British military force in 
the independent State of Hyderabad is to protect 
the Nizam from his own subjects — composed 
largely of a rebellious race. 

Hyderabad is a walled city having a population 
of about four hundred and fifty thousand. 

Owing to the treacherous character of the na- 
tives of Hyderabad and their enmity to the Brit- 
ish, English soldiers are not allowed to enter the 
city of Hyderabad without special leave from offi- 
cers commanding regiments. 

One of the first stories that I heard on joining 
my regiment in reference to the war-like Moham- 
mendans of Hyderabad was about a rebellion in 
the capital some time prior to my advent in those 
parts. 



156 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

The rebels, it was said, had taken possession 
of the city and Government officers, and had closed 
and barricaded the gates of the city against the 
British troops. 

Immediately on the receipt of information of 
the rebellion, the British force was rushed to the 
capital and took up position around the city walls. 

The guns being trained upon the gates and at 
various points of the walls, word was sent to the 
rebels to surrender within a given time, failing 
which the capital would be bombarded. 

The rebels held out. 

The officer commanding the artillery stood with 
watch in hand; three minutes only remained to 
the time limit given; two minutes more, and the 
British guns would hurl their message of destruc- 
tion and death into the besieged city; one minute 
only remained ; thirty seconds more ; ten seconds ; 
five seconds more; the officer standing ready to 
close his watch and to give the order: "Fire!" 

Suddenly, as if by magic, the gates of the city 
of Hyderabad were thrown wide open within two 
seconds from the striking of the hour. 

The eagerness with which the troops were wait- 
ing for the fray, and their indignation at having 
been thus hoaxed by the wily Oriental was well 
illustrated by the effect this sudden turn in affairs 
produced upon the officer commanding the artil- 
lery, who, upon seeing the gates of the city fly 
open on the stroke of the clock, smashed his gold 
watch into a thousand pieces on the gun by which 
he was standing. Thus ended the rebellion of 
Hyderabad. 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 157 

To the young soldier on first arriving in India 
the stories of such expeditions are more or less 
exciting according to the temperament of the new- 
ly arrived. 

The stories which produce the greatest effect 
upon the imagination of the inexperienced recruits 
are, perhaps, those in which it is shown that rebels 
are in the habit of frequently visiting the mili- 
tary lines by night, and that they steal into the 
bungalows by one or more of the dozen doors, and 
picking the locks of the arm-racks, get clean away 
with all the rifles of one or more companies with- 
out even being heard. 

"It sometimes happened," it was said, "that a 
man or two would awake and, jumping out of bed, 
would seize the thief, whereupon the Indian would 
leave his cloak or garment in the hands of his cap- 
turer and escape. Other men awakened by the 
commotion would jump and seize the thief or 
thieves by their bare arms only to have them slip 
through their fingers like so many eels, the thieves 
being well smothered with oil. 

A few evenings after joining the regiment, my 
comrades and I were entertained with the above 
story. We retired, to dream of savages, and as- 
sassins stealing our rifles and then cutting our 
throats. 

About 3.30 A. M., as I was lying in bed, 1 
heard the stealthy step of bare feet upon the brick 
floor of our barrack room. I was lying on my 
right side and the footsteps approached nearer to 
me from the part of the room behind me. What 
good fortune was mine ! Here was an opportunity 



158 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

to show some of the old soldiers how to capture a 
slippery savage. 

I dared not look around or make the slightest 
move lest I should give the thief the opportunity 
to bolt. 

Lying perfectly still and feigning to be asleep 
I waited somewhat impatiently, and, I may con- 
fess, more or less excited over the pending adven- 
ture. At length, after what seemed to be an eter- 
nity the savage was at the foot of my cot. He had 
taken two paces further when he was struck with 
a sudden inspiration that the end of the world had 
come. 

Throwing aside my quilts I bounded out of bed 
and landed him behind the ear with such force 
that he bounded into the air with a yell that awoke 
every man in the various bungalows for a mile 
around. The victim finally landed on the top of 
a kit box at the foot of a soldier's cot some twelve 
feet distant from where I met him. Every man in 
the company was on his feet in a second and rush- 
ing to the scene of action. 

I was the first, however, to get at the rebel again. 
Before he could pick himself up, I was upon him, 
and, knowing that any attempt to arrest him would 
be futile, as he would leave his garments in my 
hand and slip through everybody else's fingers 
like a meteor through the air, the only course open 
to me was to follow up the tactics which had an- 
swered so admirably thus far. Without risking 
getting the palms of my hands too oily, I closed 
my fist and again sailed into the intruder, at the 
same time calling for a rope to tie him up. ''You 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 159 

can't tie a slippery eel," shouted a dozen voices; 
the only thing to do is to pummel him until he 
can't run." 

A half dozen or more men were upon him al- 
most as soon as myself, and the unfortunate man 
was getting the lesson of his thieving life. 

The Sergeant and Color-Sergeant, aroused by 
the commotion, came up at the "double quick" 
just as the corporal punishment had ceased. Be- 
ing satisfied that there was not much danger of the 
culprit escaping, I had pushed the men back to 
stop the onslaught on the unfortunate fellow, and 
to have him dealt with by the proper authorities. 
On restoring order, the Color Sergeant commenced 
the investigation. The trespasser was pulled to- 
gether, his clothing adjusted and his disheveled 
hair pushed back from his face that we might get 
a view of his swarthy and bruised physiognomy. 
It was a revelation. I had captured and nearly 
killed — our head cook. 

In each company a British soldier is detailed 
to superintend the cooks of the company. 

At the close of each day's work the cook-house 
is locked up, and the soldier takes charge of the 
key. He invariably hangs the key near the head 
of his cot, and the master-cook steps in before 
daybreak to get the key in order to prepare the 
early morning coffee served to the men at reveille. 

Thereafter our master-cook refrained from 
passing through the bungalow while the men were 
asleep. 

The serious side of army life is seen on foreign 
service. While the Empire of India is under Brit- 



160 Memoirs of Prince John De Gwelph 

ish rule, the sixty thousand British troops sta- 
tioned there are held in readiness to meet any 
emergency at any hour, day and night. The 
surprise of 1857, when the troops were at 
church service and their arms and ammunition in 
the barracks, the terrible result of the Indian 
mutiny was a lesson that the British did not want 
repeated. Hence, even in time of peace, and in 
our own dominion it was necessary to be as much 
on the alert as though we were in an enemy's 
country. This condition of things struck me as 
being somewhat peculiar and calling for investi- 
gation. If the paternal Government of Great Brit- 
ain was all that it is claimed to be, why should 
there exist this feeling of political unrest in India, 
and of distrust on the part of the Government. 

What of the famines? What was the cause of 
them and the loss of millions of our Indian sub- 
jects from starvation? Had these famines in- 
creased in frequency and severity, as had been 
said, since the British occupation, and, if so, 
wherein did our administration come short? If 
we are responsible for the famines and the conse- 
quent sacrifice of a hundred million lives and un- 
told poverty, suffering, and distress, among the 
three hundred million human beings in India, eco- 
nomic reform rather than force of arms offered 
the only solution of the problem, if we would con- 
tinue to rule over India. This was a subject that 
presented itself for study and consideration. 

For a young private soldier subject to the re- 
strictions of military discipline and garrison or- 
ders, his limited freedom of action and move- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 161 

ments to the confines of the garrison boundary- 
was, in itself, a disadvantage that would deter the 
boldest spirit from attempting to solve the politi- 
cal and economic problem which all the authori- 
ties at the command of the British and Indian 
Government had not only failed to solve in a hun- 
dred years, but which they were evidently getting 
into a greater tangle from year to year. In addi- 
tion to the difficulty of my observation being 
confined to city limits there was the greater diffi- 
culty of being only a "common soldier," looked 
down upon by even the junior subaltern as being 
something less than human, and by the "dumb 
millions of India" as a "professional man killer" 
eagerly awaiting orders to slay them on the least 
provocation. 

This difficulty will be better understood by my 
readers by the following illustration: 

Corporal S , gymnasium instructor, accom- 
panied by two privates of the Sixteenth Bedford- 
shire Begiment, one day went out on the innocent 
sport of catching butterflies, of which some of the 
most beautiful specimens are found in the vicinity 
of Secunderabad. The day was hot, and the 
men, after having wandered over the plains for 
many hours, were very thirsty. They finally came 
in view of a toddy-tope, a plantation of cocoanut 
trees, from the trunks of which a palatable liquid 
flows on being tapped; earthenware chatties are 
tied to the tree to catch the toddy, being changed 
as often as necessary. 

The men made for the toddy-tope, hoping to be 
able to purchase some of this tempting and re- 



162 'Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 

freshing beverage. On reaching the tope, Corpo- 
ral S approached a native and, offering a 

rupee (about 33 cents), said they would like to 
purchase some toddy. 

The money tendered was more than the value 
of a chatty of the beverage. The Indian refused 
to sell to the white men or to touch the money. 
He was told that they were parched for a drink 
and must have it. Again the Indian refused to 

serve them; whereupon Colonel S tossed the 

rupee on the ground near the man, saying, "I will 
save you the trouble to climb the tree, I will do it 
myself," and proceeded to run up the eighty-foot 
trunk of the cocoanut tree with the agility of a 
native. 

Waiting until Corporal S had reached the 

top of the tree, the Indian raised a yell, which was 
immediately responded to by hundreds of armed 
men jumping up from holes in the ground in all 
directions in the toddy-tope. 

Corporal S , perceiving his predicament, and 

the danger of his companions, who were unarmed, 
shouted to them to run for their lives. They pro- 
tested, but he commanded, saying it was their 
duty to get away. Being at the entrance of the 
toddy-tope the way was clear for their retreat, and 
they made their escape. 

By the time Corporal S had descended from 

the tree, it was surrounded by hundreds of blood- 
thirsty natives, yelling and brandishing their cut- 
lasses. 

Corporal S 's butterfly net with a bamboo 

handle, one inch thick, was standing against the 



Memoirs of Prince Jolin De Guelph 163 

tree ; seizing the innocent toy, Corporal S con- 
verted it into a weapon. 

Being the instructor in swordsmanship gave him 
some advantage over his dusky foes. Singling out 
the leader of this horde, who had a very formid- 
able cutlass, he gave that gentleman a rap on the 
knuckles of his sword-hand which caused him to 
throw up his hands and yell "blue murder." His 
cutlass fell in reach of and was promptly taken up 

by Corporal S . That gentleman then set about 

cutting a way for himself through the dense crowd 
of enraged natives, which he succeeded in doing, 
but had to fight every inch of his way toward the 
barracks for a mile and a half against overwhelm- 
ing odds. 

Having been already parched with thirst before 

this encounter, Corporal S certainly had the 

time of his life in conquering that crowd without 
receiving a scratch himself. 

When within about a mile and a half of the mili- 
tary garrison the natives fell back, a part of them 
taking charge of the weapons of the whole. A 
large body of the natives proceeded to the barracks 
to lodge a complaint with the officer commanding, 
against the British soldier for having "murdered 
and wounded a number of their tribesmen." 

The Bedfordshire's regimental call and assem- 
bly was sounded, upon which every man in the 
regiment fell in with their respective companies. 
Corporal S , who had had time to refresh him- 
self and to change his clothes, was in his company. 

The regiment being formed into lines the natives 
were instructed to identify the man. 



164 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Corporal S was identified and placed under 

arrest, was court-martialed and sentenced to be 
reduced to the ranks and to serve a term of three 
years in prison with hard labor, as a deterrent to 
British soldiers to protect their lives against the 
murderous assaults of barbarous hordes of sav- 
ages; but more particularly to appease the na- 
tives, who would have avenged themselves on every 
unfortunate British soldier who might come within 
their reach had not this man been convicted. 

The General commanding the division, in re- 
viewing the court-martial proceedings, took into 
consideration the plea of self-defense and set aside 
the finding and sentence of the court-martial. 

Corporal S was transferred from head- 
quarters. 



CHAPTER XVII 

MILITARY LIFE IN SECUNDERABAD — I ATTEND MILITARY 
SCHOOL 1 BEGIN THE STUDY OF ORIENTAL LAN- 
GUAGES — SORROW AND SOLITUDE — ORDERED 
TO CANNONORE, MALABAR COAST INCI- 
DENTS OF MARCH ELEPHANT RUNS 

AMUCK IN CAMP! DIAMOND 

FIELDS AND RUBY MINES 
OF INDIA AND BURMA 

Military life was very quiet in Secunderaoad 
garrison, the usual morning parade, an occasional 
field day and the general routine of garrison and 
regimental guards, pickets and other duties occu- 
pied but a small portion of a soldier's time. The 
morning parade was held before breakfast. The 
military school for such non-commissioned officers 
and men who were required to attend to qualify 
for their examinations was in session from 11 
A. M. to 12.30 daily, with the exception of Satur- 
days and Sundays. The children of the married 
non-commissioned officers and men attended school 
from 8.45 to 11 A. M., and from 2 to 3.30 P. M. 

The school staff was composed of the regimental 
schoolmaster and non-commissioned officers duly 
qualified. The ordinary parade and school hours 

165 



166 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

take only about two hours and a half to three hours 
per day, after which time the men were free. 

I devoted my spare time to study of ordinary 
subjects, referred to elsewhere, and also studied 
Hindoostani under the Moonshee (Hindu teacher 
of languages). 

My mind was, however, constantly preoccupied 
with thoughts of my mother and her cruel fate. 
Try as I would I could not overcome my terrible 
grief for her. 

My sorrow of heart further caused me to seek 
solitude; I accordingly took my books and Testa- 
ment every day and went out among the rocks 
on the burning plain, where I could be alone with 
my thoughts and with God. 

Seeking the shelter of some huge rock with 
which the parched ground was covered for miles 
around, I spent much time in study and meditation 
on my peculiar situation and forming plans for the 
carrying out of my project to ameliorate the condi- 
tion of the people. The only interruption to my 
meditation was caused by the huge rock snakes, 
measuring from twelve to thirty feet in length, 
and snakes of every description which infested the 
locality. 

Strange as it may seem, I had no fear of these 
reptiles; and my presence among them did not 
seem to arouse more than passing curiosity on 
their part. 

Every evening when off duty I attended the re- 
ligious meetings conducted for the soldiers of the 
garrison, or at some of the missions or churches 
of Secunderabad. The religious meetings in the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 167 

garrison were held in the meeting-house set apart 
for the purpose, built on the top of a hill and called 
Mount Zion. 

The meetings were conducted principally by 
some of the Christian men of the various regi- 
ments, and occasionally by the chaplain, and by 
the different missionaries of the station. 

About a fortnight after my arrival in Secunder- 
abad I began to take my turn in leading the 
meetings. 

The English Wesleyan Mission, then in charge 
of the Rev. Mr. Gladwin, offered an opportunity 
for good work among the European and Eurasian 
community. I therefore became a frequent at- 
tendant at the Wesleyan Mission House, and was 
thus afforded many and good opportunities to 
study the different classes of people, from the 
European officials down to the native masses, and 
to observe the customs and manners of the people 
and the conditions under which they lived. 

I made many acquaintances and took the oppor- 
tunity to familiarize myself with the various 
views held by different classes as to the cause and 
effects of the famines; and also the attitude of 
the Indian population toward British rule, and 
toward possible Russian invasion of India, which 
was threatened at that time. 

I think it was in the month of April, 1880, that 
my regiment was ordered to Cannonore, on the 
Malabar coast. The next week or ten days was 
busily occupied in packing the military stores and 
baggage. At length the day arrived for us to leave 
Secunderabad. Our march commenced, and, curi- 



168 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ously enough, the route from Secunderabad, which, 
as previously stated, is about three miles north by 
west of Hyderabad, instead of being southwest to 
reach the west coast was taken eastward to the 
east coast, for the benefit of exercise of the troops 
and strategic purposes. From Rajahmundary on 
the Godavervi River our course was continued 
south to Pondicherry, a French settlement; from 
Pondicherry to Cuddalore ; thence due west across 
the Peninsula to Cannonore, on the west coast, 
about three miles from Calicut. 

Reveille sounded sometimes at twelve midnight, 
sometimes 12.30 or 1 A. M., according to the length 
of march ; coffee was served, after which we struck 
camp, loaded the baggage on the elephants and 
our march commenced within forty-five minutes 
from reveille. 

The commissariat department and advance 
guard preceded the main body by about half an 
hour. After a march of about ten miles the regi- 
ment halted to partake of coffee again. We had 
half an hour's rest, and then marched to the next 
encampment, which we reached by about 9 A. M., 
pitched camp, and rested for the day. 

The camp was generally pitched between two 
towns. As a rule I spent the greater part of the 
day in exploring the surrounding country, return- 
ing about sundown to take a few hours' rest be- 
fore the next march. In this way I covered each 
day about three or four times the distance of the 
actual march. 

These excursions gave me some opportunity of 
visiting towns and villages, historic battlefields 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 169 

and many places of interest. The whole march 
was covered without incident worth mentioning, 
with one exception, and that was a little excite- 
ment created by the caper of a "must" elephant. 

One afternoon I was returning to camp with a 
few comrades, and, when passing through the ele- 
phant lines, the elephant in question raised his 
trunk and tore off a bough of a tree. We assumed 
that he had done this to enable him to feed on the 
smaller branches; but as we approached within 
reach of the gentle beast, he made a vicious at- 
tack upon us with the said bough. He swung it 
around with great force; I was on the inner side 
of the party or nearest to the elephant. The 
thick end of the bough struck my helmet and 
knocked it off. Some of my comrades became ex- 
cited and got out of reach of harm. Upon picking 
up my helmet, which' was somewhat damaged by 
the onslaught, I could not help expressing my self- 
congratulation that my headgear was not a low- 
crowned affair, as in that case, the blow would 
have taken off the top of my head. 

The reveille sounded at twelve o 'clock that night, 
camp was struck, and this particular elephant was 
detailed to carry my own tent. I assisted in the 
loading, and was standing by the head of the ele- 
phant, which was lying down, when the keeper of 
the elephant came near me. Like a flash of light- 
ning he disappeared from my side. The elephant, 
reaching round with his trunk, seized the man by 
the waist, and, with a terrific trumpeting, raised 
the unfortunate keeper in the air and bounded off 
at top speed through the camp. When outside of 



170 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the camp the elephant stopped arid brought his 
victim down with such force on the sandy soil that 
the impact resounded for a mile around with a 
sickening thud. 

The wild run of the elephant caused a stampede 
among the troops and animals. I stood and 
watched the beast in its mad career and saw in 
the moonlight the spectacle of the man raised in 
the air during the flight, and then brought down 
to the earth. Upon the instant that he struck the 
earth the elephant bent his knee upon the chest of 
his victim and crushed the life out of him; this 
done he again bounded off, trumpeting and mak- 
ing every effort to bring down his driver. Fail- 
ing in this, he tore off into the jungle with the de- 
liberate intention of knocking the driver off under 
the trees. Order was restored in camp and the 
march commenced to the next camp, leaving the 
elephant and its driver behind. All through the 
night the driver stuck to his post. On reaching 
camp two elephants were detailed to return to 
bring in the defaulter. They escorted the culprit 
into camp. He was tried by drumhead court-mar- 
tial and was sentenced to be flogged and dis- 
charged with ignominy from the service. 

The elephant prisoner was escorted in, with a 
very crestfallen demeanor, well knowing what was 
in store for him. 

This elephant had killed at least half a dozen 
men and the British Government did well in get- 
ting rid of him. 

The novelty of a twenty-mile march before 
breakfast may be very interesting once in a while, 






Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 171 

but when it is repeated day by day on the dusty 
roads and in the sultry atmosphere of Southern 
India, it becomes more or less monotonous. Much 
of the route was overshadowed by shade trees, al- 
together unnecessary to us, as we marched by 
night, and the only effect the trees produced was 
to break the moonlight and to cast ghostly 
shadows upon the road, and, at the same time, 
served as a mantle by which the cloud of dust set 
up by the feet of a thousand men and several hun- 
dred bullock carts, elephants, etc., was deflected 
upon our unfortunate heads. 

The men of the Bedfordshires were as game as 
any in the British Army, but, naturally, each 
march saw a few of our men falling out from ex- 
haustion. I was amused on different occasions to 
find some of my comrades, who had too much grit 
to report sick, actually marching along the road 
fast asleep; my right-hand man on one occasion 
pitched head-over-heels down an embankment 
while marching asleep. 

While the actual marches did not exceed twenty- 
five miles a day and sometimes not more than 
twelve, I covered on an average of between twenty 
and thirty miles per day between the time of arriv- 
ing in camp at eight A. M. and "tattoo" at eight 
to nine P. M. 

Notwithstanding the facilities for travel in this 
twentieth century by airships, subterranean tubes 
and ocean surface motor-boats, and such means of 
communication as wireless telegraphy, as com- 
pared with the antiquated system of travel and 
communication of fifty years ago, the great ma- 



172 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

jority of our intelligent and European population 
still look upon India as being a benighted and 
heathen country, having only two seasons in the 
year — nine months hot and three months hotter, 
and, being populated entirely by blacks. Such 
was my opinion of India at the time of my arrival 
in that country. This march and my personal ob- 
servations convinced me of the general miscon- 
ception. On passing through Pondicherry, I gave 
way to the hereditary characteristics of my race. 
Heretofore we had been marching through a coun- 
try populated by people of various shades from a 
pea-nut brown to the Ethiopian ebony, but here 
in Pondicherry we had a type of beauties that 
could not be excelled in ancient Rome. 

This striking contrast brought me to a realiza- 
tion that vastness and diversity are the most im- 
portant features of the Indian Empire. 

This diversity of race led me, as a youngster, 
to closer investigation of India, the area and pop- 
ulation under British rule. The area of India, or 
that part of it known as British India, is 1,500,000 
square miles ; the peninsula is two thousand miles 
long, and the greatest breadth is also two thou- 
sand miles. The population was at that time 287,- 
223,431. This does not, of course, include the 150,- 
000,000 who have been sacrificed to famine and 
pestilence since the British occupation. 

There are one hundred and fifty-seven states 
and no less than forty-two nationalities or tribes 
speaking as many different languages. 

The climate of India is as diversified as its peo- 
ple, ranging from 128 degrees in the shade on the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 173 

plains, to perpetual snow on the Himalaya Moun- 
tains. 

The soil varies also as much as the climate and 
the people. In the Middle West and Western 
States of the United States of America they 
justly boast of the fertility of the soil and the 
vast grain fields, but, notwithstanding the richness 
of the American soil and its abundant crops, the 
fertility of much of the soil of India equals the 
most fertile on the American Continent. Again, 
vast deserts are to be found, where there is no 
vegetation either for man or beast. 

The Indian diamond fields, which have produced 
the most famous diamonds of the world, will again 
be re-opened, when we secure proper administra- 
tion for India. The famous Burma ruby mines 
are not yet exhausted, notwithstanding all reports 
to the contrary. Incidentally it may be mentioned 
the Burma rubies and those of the island of 
Ceylon are practically identical, while the 
rubies of Siam, found over an imaginary 
or defined political boundary line from Burma, are 
classified as being the most inferior in the world. 
From the time that Burma annexed a certain por- 
tion of Siamese territory, the rubies found in that 
territory have, of course, been advanced to the 
quality of Burma rubies. 

A personal friend, Moung Gyi, of Maulmein, 
Burma, spent a great many years in prospecting 
for rubies in Siam under license of the King of 
Siam. Specimen stones forwarded to me by 
Moung Gyi have been declared by the best Euro- 



174 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

pean and American experts to be the genuine 
Burma ruby. 

As a matter of fact the pigeon-blood corundum, 
no matter whether from Burma, Ceylon, Siam. or 
Montana, is commercially a "Burma Ruby." 

The march due west across the peninsula to Con- 
nonore occupied about a week and we were very 
pleased to be at the end of our long march. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

MILITARY DUTIES INFLUENCE OF MISSIONS ON SOCIAL 

LIFE OF MILITARY CAMPS ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY 

1 ASSUME THE ROLE OF "THE WHITE YOGl" 

Military duties now again occupied our minds 
in the usual way. We much enjoyed the sea-bath- 
ing, which was more or less enlivened by the preva- 
lence of man-eating sharks off that coast. 

In Cannonore we had a branch of the Basil Mis- 
sion, of which Dr. Weisman was the most active 
leader. Brother Weisman was a great musician, 
and formed a choral which met at his residence 
twice a week ; in this choral I figured with Corpo- 
ral Flowers in the role of first tenor. Dr. Weis- 
man 's friendship with the "common" soldiers 
roused the ire of some of the officers, who asked 
him why he preferred the company of "common 
soldiers" to that of the officers. 

To this query the Doctor replied, "I associatte 
with ' common soldiers, ' as you term them, for the 
reason that I prefer rather to be in the company 
of gentlemen than with blackguards." 

My associations with Dr. Weisman were of a 
very pleasant nature and afforded me many op- 
portunities to study the work of that mission. 

When the Basil Mission was first established in 

175 



176 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

India, the Missionary Board in Germany decided 
that missionaries sent to India should adopt the 
customs and manners of the people of their respec- 
tive territories — in short, to live as natives of the 
provinces, adopting their costumes and domestic 
life. The missionaries married Indian women, 
Tamil, Telegu, Maphla, and even the despised 
Sudra; as a matter of fact, as very few converts 
were made among the Brahmin and other high- 
caste Hindoos, the majority of missionaries' wives 
were from the low castes and the pariah or out- 
cast. After some years' experience this custom 
was discontinued, and the missionaries were al- 
lowed to live according to European customs, and 
to marry women of their own country. 

These marriages were, as a rule, a matter of 
greater speculation to the missionary than were 
the marriages contracted with the women of India. 

In the latter case he had ample opportunity to 
study the character of the dusky damsel of his 
choice, and there were thousands of them for him 
to select from; whereas brides from Germany 
were, in many cases, arranged for by proxy, and 
the missionary had no opportunity to see his 
future bride until she landed at his station in 
India, when the marriage ceremony was immedi- 
ately arranged. 

The wife of my friend, Dr. IVeisman, was sent 
out to him in this manner ; he knew nothing of her 
previous to her arrival in India for the marriage 
ceremony. It is remarkable that such marriages 
invariably prove to be happy unions. 

He explained to me that he was very well satis- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 177 

fied with the choice made for him, both as to quan- 
tity and quality, for his wife was a large woman, 
while he was small of stature. 

In Cannonore our missionary meetings were 
held every night in the week, the Rev. Mr. Stock- 
ing, a descendant of the old-time Missionary In- 
dian Marriage System, who had charge of the local 
mission under the direction of other missionaries. 
These meetings were attended by both military 
and civil European, Eurasian and Indian Chris- 
tians, and gave me an opportunity to make many 
pleasant acquaintances, which enabled me to come 
in close touch with the various classes and to study 
the domestic and economic conditions of the coun- 
try. 

At Calicut, a few miles from Cannonore, the 
Basil Mission had an extensive weaving estab- 
lishment, an institution which was very beneficial 
to the Indian converts. 

The practice of the Indian Yogi in the applica- 
tion of so-called charms, ceremonials and incan- 
tations of magic and mystery for the treatment of 
disease has ever been universally condemned by 
the regular physicians of Europe and America. 

The following extract taken from the medical 
encyclopedia by one of the most progressive and 
successful physicians of America, the late R. T. 
Trail, M. D., is a fair expression of the sentiments 
of the Occidental medical profession on this sub- 
ject. 

In the part treating on "Medical History," we 
find the following : ' ' The diligent student of medi- 



178 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

cal history cannot fail to discover that the ancient 
and more ignorant practitioners were more suc- 
cessful in curing diseases than are the modern and 
wiser physicians." 

The reader will observe that the poor "ignor- 
ant" and "superstitious" physician of a less civil- 
ized age had much more to be thankful for than his 
"modern and wiser" medical brethren, viz., 
greater success as a scientist with his so-called 
"ignorance," than the modern physician with his 
so-called wisdom. This fact evidently did not es- 
cape Dr. Trail, as shown by the following qualifi- 
cation, which is equally absurd. 

' ' The remedial agents of the ancients were com- 
paratively inert and comparatively harmless, and, 
while they inspired their patients with a due 
degree of confidence and hope by the charms and 
ceremonials of magic and mystery, they really 
relied on judicious hygienic regulations to aid and 
assist nature in effecting the cure. 

' ' Modern intelligence repudiates the arts and in- 
cantations of a less civilized age; and in their 
stead has substituted the stronger potencies of 
modern invention, while the habits of living and 
thinking with medical, as well as with other men, 
have become so unnatural and artificial that, in 
managing diseases, hygienic agencies are almost 
wholly overlooked." 

It is customary to offer prayers for the sick 
throughout the Christian world. That is quite 
right. But, if the Oriental prays or intones thus : 
"Please have mercy, O God! Please have mercy, 
God! Please have mercy, God;" or, again, 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 179 

" Please give strength, O God! Please give 
strength, God! Please give strength, God!" 
they are uttering " incantations or ceremonials of 
magic and mystery. ' ' 

In the year 1903 a number of medical societies 
in the United States of America adopted a reso- 
lution requesting the establishment of a psycho- 
physical laboratory in the Department of the In- 
terior, at Washington, D. C, for the practical ap- 
plication of physiologcal-psychology to abnormal 
or pathological data, such as is found in public in- 
stitutions for the criminal insane, and as observed 
in hospitals and schools, and in the defective 
classes generally." 

Practically all universities in the civilized 
world now have chairs of psychology. But, the 
masters of psychology, physiological-psychology, 
and transcendental-psychology in India, where the 
science was cradled and brought to a perfection 
as far transcending the superficial knowledge of 
the Occidental "Professor" as the light of the sun 
transcends that of the twinkling star, are still per- 
forming their "incantations and ceremonials of 
magic and mystery. ' ' 

As previously stated, one of the objects of my 
being in India was to seek enlightenment as to the 
nature and value of the "arts, charms, incanta- 
tions, and ceremonials of magic and mystery." 

About the month of August, 1880, 1 had my first 
opportunity to apply the "ceremonials," or, if I 
may be permitted the scientific term "physiologi- 
cal-psychology," to abnormal pathological data. 

My first case was that of Private Ely Story, age 



ISO Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

twenty-four, Company C, Second Battalion, Bed- 
fordshires, at Cannonore. 

Private Story was not only a temperate but a 
religious man, of a very quiet demeanor and ami- 
able disposition. It had been noticed that Story 
had been quieter than usual for some weeks pre- 
vious to the incident I am about to relate. 

One morning before reveille the whole regiment 
was aroused by a maniacal yell that made every 
man shudder. The next instant a couple of hun- 
dred men jumped from their beds and darted off 
in hot pursuit of Private Story, whose mind had 
been affected by the sun. 

Two or three hundred flying shirt-tails, vainly 
trying to overtake their owners in their headlong 
rush across the barrack square, was an exhibition 
that I had not seen equalled on any stage in 
Europe or America ; even Coney Island, New York, 
can not boast of such a spectacle. 

The flying legs represented the long and short, 
the thick and thin of Her Majesty's Second 
"Beds," and as I witnessed it I could not help but 
wish that Her Majesty had been present to review 
this impromptu shirt-tail parade. 

The unfortunate patient reached the bath- 
houses well in the lead of the foremost of his pur- 
suers, where he most effectually barricaded him- 
self against capture. 

I was sleeping in the same room as the patient, 
but waited to partially dress myself before going 
out. I then went over to the bath-houses, where, 
by the time I arrived, about one-half of the regi- 
ment, attired and unattired, were endeavoring to 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 181 

gain admission by the doors and windows. One 
would have supposed that the whole noisy mob 
had just been let loose from " Bedlam." 

The pounding on doors and windows, and the 
shouting was sufficient to drive even a sane man 
crazy. 

As practically all the senior non-commissioned 
officers of the company were present, I, being 
merely a recruit, had no right to assume com- 
mand. However, I called for silence and ordered 
the men from the doors and windows. 

I suggested that some of them would look better 
if they would return to their rooms and put on 
Her Majesty's uniform; then, turning to the color 
sergeant, I said, "Make the men retire and I will 
attend to Story." 

Order having been restored, I called, very 
quietly, "Ely!" A few seconds later Ely's face 
appeared at the window at which I was gazing. 
Without noticing the crowd of men, Story 
looked directly at me. I simply said in a quiet 
tone, "Come!" He immediately climbed down 
from the window and opened the door. I received 
him at the door, placing my arm in a brotherly 
way about his shoulders. I thus escorted him 
through the astonished crowd, which he did not 
appear to notice in any way ; nor did he speak. On 
reaching the barrack-room, I dressed him and took 
him to the military hospital by order of the Color 
Sergeant. 

He was admitted to the hospital and duly regis- 
tered as a mental case. Two men were detailed 
to be with him constantly in a private ward. For 



182! Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

a number of days I was the only person whose 
presence the patient seemed to recognize. 

He would do anything I asked him to do, but 
only spoke incoherently. 

My power was recognized, and I was accord- 
ingly allowed to attend to him at any time, day or 
night. I made frequent visits and devoted con- 
siderable time to my comrade. In about a week 
Story was once more in his normal mental and 
physical condition. In another week he was dis- 
charged from the hospital, cured. Story continu- 
ed thereafter in perfect health during the remain- 
ing years of his service. 

Reference to the regimental and hospital records 
will substantiate the above account. My connec- 
tion with the case was widely discussed in the regi- 
ment, and that and other incidents unfortunately 
caused me to be "dubbed" in the regiment with 
the sobriquet of "Jesus Christ, , ' and later, by the 
Indians, "The White Yogi," and the "Great 
Royal Physician." 



CHAPTER XIX 

AT MALLIAPURAM— I VISIT THE WARLIKE MAPHLAS— 

IN MAPHLA TOWN— THE SACRED TEMPLE OF TAL- 

LIPARAMBA— A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH 

TIGER IN BED WITH A COBRA 

After about six months in Cannonore I was or- 
dered with my company, to Malliapuram, a detach- 
ment furnished from the garrison of Cannonore. 

The inhabitants of this district were principally 
the Maphla tribe, which has probably given the 
British Government more trouble than any other 
race in India. A short time before my company 
was sent there a rebellion took place and the bar- 
racks of the British troops were destroyed by fire 
by the Maphlas. 

The only buildings left standing were the mar- 
ried quarters, which were later occupied by the 
troops. Many British soldiers, it was said, had 
lost their lives or had mysteriously disappeared 
by venturing into Maphla town. 

The district at fhe time I arrived was "out of 
bounds." In other words, there was a regimental 
order prohibiting soldiers from entering Maphla 

town. 

The military order in question did not prevent 
my venturing into this district, from which it was 

183 



184 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

said no individual soldier ever returned. One 
morning about nine o'clock, I entered Maphla 
town. The principal thoroughfare is a narrow 
street, a little more than a mile in length. I had 
proceeded only about twenty yards when a Maphla 
called to me from an upper window, and speaking 
in English ordered me to go back; at the same 
time asking me if I did not know that I was in 
Maphla town, and that no white man ever suc- 
ceeded in passing to the end of the street, or in re- 
turning. 

I replied to him in Hindoostani that I had heard 
about Maphla Town and the Maphla people, and 
that as I was interested in all that I had heard of 
their daring attacks on individual soldiers and 
also upon the garrison from time to time ; I wanted 
to know more of this warlike race from personal 
observation. The man showed great apparent 
concern and repeatedly urged upon me to leave 
the place while I had the opportunity. 

He called my attention to the large number of 
men congregating on either side of the street at a 
cross-road about half way through the town. 

He said, "You see the number of men is in- 
creasing. All the Maphlas are gathering at the 
cross-roads. There are many more on either side 
whom you can not see. You can not go past them. 
You will disappear either to the right or to the 
left. ,, 

I smilingly assured him that I did not believe 
that his people were quite as bad as they had been 
painted. If they had molested soldiers in their 
town or had attacked the troops that were in gar- 






Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 185 

rison such attacks had originated through some 
imaginary or actual grievance. They would soon 
see that they could have no cause for offense at 
my presence among them, for the reason that I 
neither intended to offer nor take offense. "My 
visit is made in consequence of the interest I have 
in the welfare of your people, and your friendly 
advice to me assures me that my confidence in the 
Maphlas is not misplaced." With a respectful 
salaam, he left the window. 

When I entered the street it was a busy thor- 
oughfare; with the exception of the gathering 
crowd of men at the cross-way referred to, the 
street was deserted. As I walked along, casually 
glancing at the houses, I observed that while quiet- 
ness reigned supreme there were people quietly 
watching my approach ; and, as I got further down 
the street I observed that business had been re- 
sumed in my rear, while the number of men at the 
crossing showed signs of restless activity, some 
disappearing around the corners as others ap- 
peared. 

It was apparent to me that an attack was in- 
tended and that the resumption of business activ- 
ity and noise, made by the venders, was intended 
to cover the assault from observation from the out- 
skirts of the town. When I came to within thirty 
yards of the cross-road about fifty men were in 
view on either side and evidence of a number being 
behind or in the buildings. After having ad- 
vanced about ten paces more, the Maphlas came 
into the open and formed a line across the street. 
On either side of the street business had now been 






186 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

resumed. I went up to a fruit vender on the 
right-hand side and purchased some green cocoa- 
nuts, bananas and other fruits and asked the fruit 
vender to kindly present them with my compli- 
ments to his fellow people, and to thank them for 
the courtesy they had shown me in having thus 
left their business to accord me so hearty a re- 
ception; to say that I appreciated the honor paid 
to me and regretted that my limited knowledge of 
the language did not admit of my giving any ade- 
quate expression of my appreciation of their loy- 
alty and friendship. 

The astonished fruit vender looked at me as 
though he wondered whether I had taken leave of 
my senses, or, if I really thought the town had 
turned out in my honor. 

The natural politeness characteristic in the 
Asiatic races asserted itself in my friend the fruit 
vender, and, stepping from the porch he ap- 
proached certain men whom I had already singled 
out as the chiefs of the town. He delivered my 
message of thanks and informed them of my gift 
of fruits. I had myself approached the party be- 
fore the chiefs had recovered from their surprise, 
and invited them to step to the store and accept 
of my hospitality of refreshing milk from the 
green cocoanuts and other fruits. 

The party then came to the fruit vender's and 
enjoyed the cocoanut milk; there not being enough 
cocoanuts to go round, a larger supply was 
brought from the neighboring bazaar. The 
Maphla chief insisted upon paying for the major 
portion of the fruit. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 187 

A moment or two after the invitation to my 
newly-made friends, my former acquaintance of 
the window dialogue approached me with a pro- 
found salaam, and congratulated me upon my fear- 
lessness and graciousness, both of which quali- 
ties, the Maphlas, as a race, ardently admire, and 
assured me that I would always be welcome in 
Maphla Town. 

Some of the leading men, including my first ac- 
quaintance, whose names I can not recall, as the 
incident occurred about twenty-eight years ago, 
escorted me to the other end of the town and 
showed me every courtesy. 

The above incident and many other observations 
in various parts of India during my long experi- 
ence in that country convinced me many years ago 
that the solution of the problem of the peaceful 
and successful administration of the Indian Em- 
pire; the removal of famines and promotion of 
prosperity amongst its three hundred millions in- 
habitants, lies not in the " mailed hand" repre- 
sented by the 60,000 British troops and an Indian 
Army, but in the establishment of equity and jus- 
tice in our commercial and political relations 
within the Empire ; so, too, the solution of the per- 
plexing problem of universal peace, now agitating 
the civilized world, lies in the establishment of the 
"Reign of the Law" — Equity and Justice in the 
administration of political and commercial re- 
lations in and between the great centers of Occi- 
dental and Oriental civilization. 

My experience in Malliapuram was pleasant. 
I went about a great deal in the surrounding coun- 



188 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

try where the British soldier had never been in 
the memory of some of the oldest residents. 

On one occasion I paid a visit in company with 
my faithful comrade and friend, Benjamin Hor- 
nett, to Talliparamba, about sixteen miles distant. 

That the people of this quaint religious town had 
never seen a white man, with the exception of our 
friend the missionary, Dr. Weismann, may be seen 
from the fact that half the town came out at least a 
mile to meet us when they saw us coming along 
the road toward the town. We visited the Mis- 
sion there, where Dr. Weismann was staying at 
the time. 

Each time we went out to see the interesting 
sights of the surrounding country, of which we 
could get a splendid view from the surrounding 
hills, hundreds of natives followed at a respectful 
distance. There is a temple standing on a hill, 
which is closed to all but the faithful. Dr. Weis- 
mann presented a deputation of the principal rep- 
resentatives of the town, who were much pleased 
at our voluntary assurance that we respected the 
religious faith of all people as we did also their 
sacred temples, and that we recognized the truth 
of the text of their sacred 

Eig Veda X, 82, 3. 
"He who is our Father that begot us, He who is 

the Creator, 
He who knows all places and all creatures, 
He who gave names to the gods, being One only, 
To Him all creatures go, to ask HIM." 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 189 

Ekam eva advitiyam — "There is but One Being, 
no second." 



And we hold that religion is broad enough to 
accept the spirit of the following beautiful lines : 

"There is, we know, one primitive and sure re- 
ligion pure — 

Unchanged in spirit, though its forms and codes 
wear myriad modes — 

Contains all creeds within its mighty span — 

The love of God displayed in love for man. ' ' 

One afternoon, shortly after my arrival in Mal- 
liapuram, when passing the barracks to my quar- 
ters, I met the officer commanding the station, Ma- 
jor F. F. Johnstone. Saluting him, I was about to 
pass on my way when he interrupted me with the 
surprising question, "Corporal Norman, where 
are your stripes?" 

"I replied that the only stripes I had were in 
my trousers, unless he took my good-conduct badge 
for a corporal's stripe." 

If I was surprised at the question, a greater 
surprise was quickly to follow. His next remark 
was, "You are in orders to-day for lance-corporal. 
You ought to have been shown the orders. Go at 
once to the tailor's shop and have your stripes 
attached." 

"But, sir, I have protested for the last three 
years that I did not wish for promotion." 

"Yes, sir, I know you have; and had you not 



190 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

been such a fool in having refused promotion you 
would have had a commission by this time instead 
of a lance-corporal's stripe. Promotion goes very 
slowly in India, but I congratulate you in having 
won the respect and confidence of the officers, non- 
commissioned officers, and men to the extent that 
the first step has been given you without your 
knowledge or application; I wish you every suc- 
cess." 

Two incidents occurred shortly after this which 
threatened in each case to bring my career as a 
non-commissioned officer to a sudden end. 

The first incident occurred the day following my 
promotion. It was my first experience as com- 
mander of the guard, having charge of all the de- 
tachment posts. 

After having posted my sentries at 2 A. M., I 
threw myself upon my cot, which was standing 
across the open door of the guard room, in order 
to receive the full benefit of the fresh air. I was, 
of course, fully dressed and wearing my side arms, 
prepared to turn out at any instant. 

The officer of the day might visit the guard, or 
an alarm might be given at any moment ; but, fail- 
ing these I was free to take a nap until time to 
send out relief sentries at 4 A. M., unless I should 
wish to go my rounds of the sentries in the mean- 
time. 

I was enjoying a quiet doze, a light sleep 
through which I could distinctly hear the sentry 
pacing to and fro just in front of the guard-room 
about 3 A. M. 

His post extended only about fifteen paces to 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 191 

the right and left of the guard-room doOr. Hence 
very little danger of the guard being surprised 
without knowledge of the sentry. My nap was 
suddenly terminated by something bounding onto 
my cot. I was conscious that the creature, what- 
ever it might be, was in search of prey, and that 
it was standing over me, as I felt its heated breath 
close to my face. 

Opening my eyes, I looked up to see — the 
dreaded tiger which had been terrorizing the town 
and which a number of officers and men had been 
hunting with rifles for two days. The beast had 
me at a disadvantage, as his position, standing 
across my body, rendered it impossible for me to 
seize him by the throat or to move without the 
brute anticipating my action. My only chance 
seemed to be that the sentry, looking in at the 
door as he passed, could shoot the beast as he 
stood over me, but this was only problematical, 
as his attention is supposed to be directed in any 
other quarter than gaping into the guard room. 

I accordingly struck up friendly relations with 
my visitor. As I heard the sentry approaching the 
door, I said, "Hello! Tiger, old man, how are 
you?" 

The sentry, thinking I was talking in my sleep, 
was about to pass by, but casually glanced in at 
the door. There was a light in the guard-room, 
and he was only five paces from me. He was hor- 
rified at what he saw and halted. I gave a quiet 
order: "Load, and fire!" 

He brought his rifle to the "ready," and opened 
the breech to load, when the tiger, thinking di's- 



193 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

cretion the better part of valor, bounded off my 
cot and out of the open door, passing the sentry 
before that astonished individual could thrust 
him with his bayonet. 

The beast had again escaped — and so had I es- 
caped a most horrible death from hydrophobia, — 
for Tiger was a huge mad dog. He had hitherto 
been the Mascot of the regiment, and was named 
" Tiger," as he bore a striking resemblance to the 
tiger in size, color and strength. Tiger was the 
property of a bugler. Any pensioner of the Bed- 
fordshires who served at Malliapuram at that time 
will recall both the faithful Mascot, the above in- 
cident and the sad end of old "Tiger." He was 
shot by a search party later in the day. 

A few days later I was placed in charge of the 
regimental post-office and coffee-shop, which stood 
in an isolated place on the bank of the river. 

Immediately behind the building was a steep 
embankment of about a hundred feet, densely cov- 
ered with an undergrowth, forming a safe retreat 
for thousands of reptiles and wild beasts. The 
barracks formerly destroyed by the Maphlas had 
stood on the wide area which now separated me 
from the regimental quarters. 

A few nights after taking charge of my new 
duties I had undressed and put out the light pre- 
paratory to retiring. It being the hot season I 
threw back the sheet and stretched my weary body 
on the bed. I had no sooner done so, however, than 
I had a sudden inspiration to get up again. As a 
student of psychology I had frequently profited by 
my knowledge of physiological-psychology, but at 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 193 

last I had embraced the wisdom of the serpent — I 
was not only lying with, but on, a deadly cobra. 

The blissful communion of "a man and a maid" 
bears no comparison with the psychological effect 
on ' ' a man with a cobra. ' ' 

As with the one so with the other, they are 
branches of transcendental knowledge attained 
only by experience. The magical sensation experi- 
enced by a weary warrior when he feels the circle 
or coil of wisdom — the clammy folds of a serpent 
in communion with the lumbar regions of his 
psycho-physical being must be experienced to be 
appreciated. 

I can only say that the intercommunion so elec- 
trifies and vitalizes the highest cortical centers that 
perfect connection between mind and matter is 
established like a flash of chain lightning, and, lo ! 
the man of knowledge has become "as wise as a 
serpent" — the natural issue of the social congress. 
Moral. — Let him who seeks wisdom, go to Eden, 
and, like Adam, embrace the serpent, 



CHAPTER XX 



A FALSE ALARM! THE BLIND MISSIONARY A TRUE 

ROMANCE 1 REFUSE THE MANAGEMENT OF A 

LARGE TEA AND COFFEE PLANTATION 

" PANGS OF REGRET" 

When taking over my duties as manager of the 
regimental post-office and coffee-shop I was ad- 
vised to be on the alert for hostile Maphlas, who 
prowled about the military lines at night. One 
night, shortly after midnight, I was awakened by 
stealthy footsteps of some bare-footed person or 
persons at the back of my quarters. Taking my 
rifle and twenty rounds of ammunition, I went out- 
side to investigate without attempting to awaken 
my assistant, lest in doing so I should alarm the 
enemy. 

Should his assistance be necessary the first shot 
would call him and the whole garrison to arms. 

All was clear in front of the building; the in- 
truders were now coming along the north side, 
evidently to attack either through the north win- 
dow or for the purpose of entering the front door. 
It may be stated that owing to the heat both door 
and windows were open. 

To forestall an attack through the window, 
which might prove fatal to my assistant, Private 

194 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 195 

Cooper, I turned the corner and brought my rifle 
to my shoulder, covering the man who was then 
looking in at the window. My sudden movement 
so startled the disturber of my peaceful slumbers 
that he jumped and yelled as I thought only a 
frightened man could yell. Not wishing to send 
a man into the next world while laboring under 
such a mental shock, I spared his life. It was — 
Private Cooper taking a little fresh air in his 
pajamas, contrary to orders. 

In the latter part of 1881, not having yet be- 
come acclimated, and having suffered as most 
men do from the change of climate and mode of 
life during the first two years, I was ordered to 
the Health Station of Wellington, near Ootaca- 
mund. This Health Station serves for all troops 
in the South West of India. 

I became an assistant master in the military 
school, where I remained through my first season 
in Wellington. 

As the junior member of the teachers' staff and 
as the junior non-commissioned officer, I was as- 
signed to the primary grade with the children and 
to the fourth grade of the men. In the absence 
of the head master from his class in the High 
School with the children and the first and second 
grades for non-commissioned officers, it was cus- 
tomary to have the first assistant master, a ser- 
geant, take his classes. A few days after my 
appointment I called to take charge of the head 
master's classes over the heads of my superiors. 

During my second season, I was in the pay- 
master's office. My evenings were mostly spent in 



196 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

participating in missionary meetings at Coonoor, 
about three miles distant from Wellington, or at- 
tending choral practice and social gatherings, be- 
ing a member of the church choir; the Rev. Mr. 
Browne was the army chaplain at that time, and 
thus passed a most enjoyable and edifying time. 

It was my custom to go up to Ootacamund every 
Saturday afternoon, situated about ten miles fur- 
ther up the Ghats from Wellington, to remain 
over the week-end. The reader will probably be 
of the opinion that there must have been some 
great attraction to induce me to take a weekly 
climb from ten to twelve miles up the mountain 
side. To satisfy their curiosity I will relate what 
the attraction was. 

The pastor of the English Baptist Church of 
Ootacamund at that time was the Rev. Mr. Pearce, 
who was spending the "winter" of his long mis- 
sionary service in the peace and quietude of that 
European settlement in the bosom of the Nilgiri 
Hills. 

Mr. Pearce has, no doubt, long since gone to his 
reward for his long labors in the Master's vine- 
yard, for at that time in 1881-2 he was well beyond 
the age of four score years. 

He was totally blind and rather feeble. It was 
a joy to him, however, to continue in the pastorate 
of his church, notwithstanding his great age and 
sore affliction. It was my pleasure and privilege 
to read from the Scriptures and other works to 
him, and the greater privilege of profiting by the 
wise and fatherly counsels of that saintly patri- 
arch. It was also my pleasure to assist the pastor 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 197 

at the church services on each Sabbath; the read- 
ing of the lessons and hymns falling to me. 

I can not touch upon the social privileges afford- 
ed by the many pleasant associations in Ootaca- 
mund without first paying due honor to the lov- 
ing devotion of Mrs. Peabody-Pearce to her hus- 
hand. 

Mrs. Pearce herself had been for many years a 
missionary in India. She was less than one-half 
the age of Mr. Pearce, whom she married when he 
was over eighty years of age, blind, and otherwise 
afflicted, in order that she might nurse him and 
care for him during his last days on earth. Words 
utterly fail to adequately express the devoted man- 
ner in which she carried out this self-imposed ser- 
vice to the aged man of God. I can only describe 
their home as being the nearest appro'ach to the 
"Holy of Holies" of anything of which it is possi- 
ble to conceive upon earth. Mrs. Pearce is an 
American lady, and related to the celebrated Pea- 
body family, of which the inventor of the famous 
Peabody rifle was also a member. 

Mrs. Pearce, I have no doubt, is still living at 
"Woodend," a beautiful bungalow in Octacamund, 
the building of which I was privileged to assist 
in supervising in the year 1882. 

I received an invitation to spend some weeks 
with my friends, the Rev. and Mrs. Pearce, an 
invitation which I highly appreciated and accept- 
ed. I arrived on Saturday evening. Many dis- 
tinguished guests were present from Octacamund 
and elsewhere; among others was a young and 
most beautiful French widow, whose name for ob- 



198 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

vious reasons I will omit. The responsibility of 
the management of a very large estate had been 
thrust upon her by the death of her husband, a 
great undertaking for a lady so young and lovely, 
as the successful management of such an estate 
necessarily involves not only experience, but con- 
stant supervision over a large number of coolies, 
scattered over a vast area, and the thousand and 
one duties connected with the business of the 
estate. 

One morning Mrs. Peabody-Pearce surprised 
me by stating that my French friend, Madame 

, had expressedia wish that I would undertake 

the management of her tea and coffee plantation. 

Looking at Mrs. Pearce, I replied, "I am sur- 
prised that Madame should have made such 

a request. She is so talented and accomplished 
and such a good business woman that I can not 
understand why she should desire to place her 
large estate in the hands of a young and inexpe- 
rienced man like me. She needs the friendly 
counsel of older heads. Please advise her to ob- 
tain the services of a thoroughly experienced 
man to take charge of her estate. She can not be 
too careful in selecting a man for such a respon- 
sible position. I would suggest that she commu- 
nicate with some reputable agents to secure the 
services of a man of integrity, one who can be re- 
lied upon to protect her interests." 

''But," persisted Mrs. Pearce, " Madame 

says she can rely upon you to protect her inter- 
ests. She wants you to manage her estate. She 
is quite aware that you are inexperienced in the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 199 

management of tea and coffee plantations, but she 
says, and I agree with her, that after two or three 
years' experience you would be a past master in 
the business of tea and coffee raising" (this with 
a smile). 

"It is inconceivable," I said, "why Madame 
should put herself to the unnecessary ex- 
pense of paying double salaries during the time 
I would be learning the business, when she can at 
once obtain the services of a proficient manager." 

Mrs. Pearee smiled and said, "I fear that you 
are almost as inexperienced in the ways of a 
woman as you are in growing coffee. To speak 

plainly, Madame has fallen in love with you 

and wants you to manage her. She appreciates 
your gentlemanly bearing and courtesy to the 
ladies, and I take this opportunity to thank you 
for your tact and diplomacy in the company of my 
guests and the young ladies of my school (refer- 
ring to the Young Ladies ' Seminary of which she 
was principal). I hope you will see more of Mad- 
ame and that you will, in due time, become 

the proprietor of the estate." 

Much to Mrs. Pearee 's surprise, and to Mad- 
ame 's grief, I explained that it was utterly 

impossible for me to think of marriage at that 

time. I could not help but admire Madame 

very much and wished I could serve her, but that 
I owed my duty to my country, the details of 
which I could not explain, and that in carrying 
out my duty to my country, I was also performing 
a most sacred duty to my mother. Personal in- 



200 Memoirs of Prince John Be GuelpJi 

terests and feelings could not, therefore, be taken 
into consideration at the expense of duty. 

Madame , although much affected by the 

disappointment, expressed her appreciation of my 
sentiments. I am not ashamed to acknowledge 
that I had, myself, fallen in- love with the beau- 
tiful French lady before I learned anything about 
her estates or wealth, and that it was not without 
a pang of regret that I had to turn from a love 
so noble as that offered to me in this remarkable 
manner. 






CHAPTER XXI 

I REJOIN MY REGIMENT MILITARY LIFE IN BURMA — 

AN EXCITING TIME WITH A COMPANY OF MADRAS 

NATIVE INFANTRY 1 LEAVE THE ARMY 

APPOINTED INSPECTOR OF POLICE AN 

EXCITING ARREST 

Early in 1883, 1 bade good-bye to my friends of 
Ootacamund and Wellington to rejoin the head- 
quarters of my regiment, which during my ab- 
sence had removed from the Malabar coast to 
Thayetmye (Taw-Kyoung), then the frontier sta- 
tion of lower Burma. Here, for the first time in 
my service, I was assigned to regimental duty. 

A few days after joining my regiment I passed 
my final examination in military tactics as com- 
pany and battalion commander. I was, shortly 
afterwards, promoted to the rank of corporal and 
assigned to Company G., Captain W. A. Aid- 
worth. I took up the study of the Burmese lan- 
guage as well as that of the customs and man- 
ners of the people and their religion, Buddhism. 
Here, again, I was a member of the church choir 
of the late Rev. Mr. Briscoe, Army Chaplain. 

In Thayetmyo our missionary meetings were 
attended by many Eurasians, which new associa- 
201 



202 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tions afforded me a channel through which to 
come in closer contact with the Burmese than I 
could otherwise have done while in the British 
service. 

A very pathetic case of the tragic death, follow- 
ing a remarkable dream, of one of our men is of 
such value to psychologists that I will relate it. 

Private 's (whose name I do not recall, 

but which case can be easily verified) cot was next 
to mine in the barrack-room, of which I had 
charge. On the day in question a sham battle 
was ordered. My regiment was to form part of 
the invading army to capture the garrison town 
of Thayetmyo. Eevielle sounded about 1.30 A. M. 
On getting up to dress for the field-day, Private 

came to me and explained that he had had 

a dream which made him feel very bad. I asked 
him to relate the dream to me, and added that if 
there was any way in which I could relieve his 
mind I would be pleased to do so. Being thus en- 
couraged he stated as follows : 

"I dreamed that we had inarched out from the 
barracks to the country and after having been 
formed in order for attack upon the Thayetmyo 
Fort, the return march was commenced. I was 
attached to the section of which you had command 
in escalading the walls of the fort. The attack 
in our advance across the open plain to the Fort 
was all very vivid to me. At length we reached 
the moat under heavy fire from the artillery and 
infantry defending the fort. The attacking party 
reached the walls in good order; escalading lad- 
ders were placed against the wall. As I said be- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 203 

fore, I was with your section in the escalading 
party; you, being in command, were the first to 
ascend the ladder. I followed at your heels. As 
you stepped onto the rampart I had reached the 
top of the ladder, and, as you stepped to the 
right, I stepped onto the parapet. I had no sooner 
done so than I was killed by the gun trained over 
our ladder. 

"I am not superstitious and much less a coward, 
but, you know I have served ten months over my 
time and go home by the first troop-ship next 
month. My dear old mother has been counting 
the days for more than a year, thinking, of course, 
that I ought to have been sent home when my 
time was up. It would be a terrible blow to her 
if I should not go home." 

On hearing the recital of this dream, and re- 
membering equally remarkable dreams of my own 
which had come true, I called the orderly corporal 

and ordered him to put Private 's name on 

the sick list. This action satisfied Private 

for the time being, but, about ten minutes before 
time for the parade, he said, "I am not sick, and 
can not shirk my duty even though it be only that 
of a field-day, on account of a dream." 

He insisted upon attending parade and was 
killed exactly as he had foreseen, as he stepped on 
the rampart the instant I had made room for him 
to step from the ladder. 

This sad fatality was the fault of the gunners 
who had trained their guns immediately over our 
ladder, or rather, on the point at which my men 
would step off. This was contrary to military 



204 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

field-day regulations. The parade was under the 
command of Major General Prendergast. 

At a sham fight in Thayetmyo I was placed in 
command of a detachment of the Bedfordshires 
and ordered to attack, and, if possible, capture a 
company of the 28th Madras Native Infantry of 
the opposing force. Having driven them from 
their fortified position, I pursued them across 
the open plain, and thus put them out of action. 
The military umpires ordered the buglers to sound 
the ''cease fire" and " retreat" for the 28th Mad- 
ras Native Infantry. The Madrases, however, 
refused to obey orders and continued their fire. 
The Madras blood was up and as they could not 
be killed by blank ammunition, they continued to 
blaze away. Being hard pressed, they finally re- 
treated in disorder to the compound of a neighbor- 
ing bungalow after having been driven about a 
mile and a half across the plains. 

The Bedfordshires in close pursuit were drawn 
up in front of the wide gate-way before the 28th 
was prepared for action. I ordered the 28th to 
"Ground Arms." Instead of obeying this order 
the officer in charge, who was, like his men, much 
excited, gave the order, "28th, fix bayonets!" 

It is against orders to "fix bayonets" during a 
sham fight. It is also against orders for troops 
to carry ball cartridges on such a field-day (the 
wisdom of such an order, considering the church 
parade surprise to the British troops in 1857, is 
to be questioned). The action of the 28th was, 
therefore, of a mutinous character, and had to be 
nipped in the bud; I accordingly determined to 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 205 

give the 28th the scare of their lives. I was credit- 
ed with having as powerful a word of command as 
any officer in the garrison. My next command 
rang out over the plains causing a sensation 
among the umpires and the general staff, then 
galloping at top speed toward the scene of mutiny ; 
the command was, "Bedfordshires, fix bayonets !" 
"Fire a volley and charge!" "With ball cart- 
ridge, load ! " " Present ! " " Fire ! ! " 

The umpires had by this time thundered up to 
the adobe wall surrounding the compound, only 
to find all the fight taken out of the Madras Native 
Infantry. Needless to say the (ball) cartridge 
existed only in the word of command; but the 
psychological effect produced on the Madras In- 
fantry would form an amusing subject for the 
vitograph. 

The officer commanding the 28th was placed 
under arrest for disobedience of orders, while I 
was complimented for the tact displayed by my 
ruse. 

The political unrest in Burma and the conditions 
under which the people lived caused me to wish 
for better facilities for investigation than those 
afforded to me under the restrictions of military 
discipline and the disadvantages of being a soldier 
against which profession much prejudice existed 
among the people. 

In the month of October, 1884, I purchased my 
discharge from the army, much against the wish 
of my commanding officer and the officers of my 
company. In January, 1885, I was appointed In- 
spector of Police and assigned to duty as ship- 



206 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ping inspector at Bassein, on the Bassein River. 
The principal shipping at Bassein is rice, which is 
shipped to the principal markets of the world. 

My office as shipping inspector afforded me the 
opportunity to study one of the principal indus- 
tries of the country, — the rice trade, and also to 
familiarize myself with the real cause of famines 
in India. The Government reports published in 
the official Blue Books show that from 1861 the 
deficiency of the rainfall in the districts affected 
by famine was never more than such as would 
cause a temporary lift in prices. The late William 
Digby, C. I. E., who was one of the greatest au- 
thorities on the economic conditions and famines 
of India, said the increasing frequency and sever- 
ity of famines in India must be attributed to our 
system of administration of that Empire. In view 
of the fact that the British Government had spent 
several hundred million dollars and had construct- 
ed the most elaborate irrigation system in the 
world, advantages not enjoyed previous to the 
British occupation when famines were much less 
frequent, it became apparent to me that the prin- 
cipal cause of this scourge, through which over a 
hundred million lives had been sacrificed, must 
be looked for somewhere outside of the adminis- 
tration. It did not take me long to discover that 
the real cause of the terrible famines and the 
consequent wanton sacrifice of life was due to the 
White Peril in India! Not to British rule or 
British administration of the domestic affairs of 
that vast Empire, but to the rapacity of so-called 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 207 

Christian merchants. The White Peril of Robbery 
in the name of commerce ! 

When capital and influence combine in nefarious 
intrigue against the Government, the best efforts 
of the administration to ameliorate the condition 
of the people are rendered ineffective. 

Much is said against trusts and monopolistic 
corporations. 

The laws of Great Britain, which also apply to 
India, are rigidly enforced against monopoly in 
trade. 

It should be borne in mind that the evils aris- 
ing from monopoly are due to the dishonesty of 
the rapacious beasts of prey, called princes of 
commerce ! 

Monopoly in the various lines of commerce, con- 
ducted on the lines of co-operative public service 
organizations under honest and conservative 
management and progressive policy, would be the 
greatest boon to the human race. 

Who are the commercial filibusters in India, 
who despoil the unfortunate people of their prop- 
erty and their very means of existence ? Are they 
British merchants and millers? 

If the reader will refer to the business direc- 
tories of Rangoon, Bassein and Akyab, in Burma, 
and of the large centres of India, he will find that, 
with one exception, the rice millers in Burma are 
all foreign corporations and firms, principally, if 
not exclusively, Germans ; the one exception being 
a Chinese firm ; foreigners also control the milling 
business throughout India. 

To evade the law prohibiting monopoly in trade, 



208 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

the various rice millers enter into a private agree- 
ment to control the price of paddy (unhusked rice) 
the price agreed upon ranging anywhere from 
sixty per cent, to seventy-five per cent, of the 
actual cost of production. The same rule applies 
to the wheat millers in the northwest and in the 
Punjab, and in fact throughout India, as it does 
elsewhere; which means that every grain of rice 
and wheat cultivated in India is produced at the 
cost of the sweat of ,the Indians ' brow, and princi- 
pally for exportation without either paying the 
market value for the commodity to the purchaser 
or a living wage to the unfortunate coolies in the 
rice and grain fields. 

About four o'clock one Sunday afternoon in the 
month of May, 1885, I was in the main street in 
Bassein when a man reported that a lot of Eu- 
ropean sailors had murdered a man in one of the 
outlying districts of the town. Sending my order- 
ly at the double to call the reserves from the 
guard, I proceeded to the scene of the crime, ex- 
pecting that my men would reach there by a dif- 
ferent route about the same time as myself. I 
had reached the end of the town, followed by a 
•crowd of Burmese, and was proceeding along a 
lonely road when a gang of thirteen half-drunken 
sailors armed with sticks, whisky bottles, bottles 
of soda-water, jack-knives and other weapons came 
into view from, a turn in the road ahead of me. I 
was unarmed, and with the exception of one pair 
of handcuffs, had no means to secure so many men 
even if I could arrest them. I was in mufti, and 
decided to pass through the crowd. One of the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 209 

gang, however, identified me and with an oath 
threw a bottle of soda-water at my head. The air 
seemed alive with bottles and sticks for a few 
seconds. I arrested my foremost assailant, hand- 
cuffed him and threw him to the ground. His 
twelve infuriated companions while waiting their 
turn for arrest, amused themselves by disposing 
of their stock of bottles of soda-water by throw- 
ing the same at my head. Sticks were then 
brought into play and jack-knives flashed in the 
air. 

I seized one man who appeared to be the ring- 
leader of the crowd, and called to a Burman to 
lend me his goungboung (turban). He threw it 
to me. With this I tied the hands of my prisoner 
behind him and threw him down. Other Burmans 
came forward with their turbans, and I had ar- 
rested and secured eleven of the thirteen sailors 
when the men arrived. 

On seeing the approach of the police in force, 
two men ran away. I ordered the removal of the 
eleven to the police station, and then went in pur- 
suit of the other two. About three-quarters of a 
mile from the starting point I discovered one of 
the men whose escape had been obstructed by a 
lot of Burmans ; I arrested him, tied him up and, 
having made him over to a couple of constables, 
again took up the chase for the thirteenth man. 
I overtook him at the highest point of a bridge, 
where he turned to make his last stand. He was a 
red-headed Norwegian, six feet four inches and 
one-half in height, and a big muscular fellow. I 
could not help but smile as I ran up the grade to 



210 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

see this giant with his arms swinging wildly over 
his head with a whisky bottle in one hand and a 
bottle of soda in the other. 

Hundreds of Burmese had followed me in the 
chase ; the noise and din that they set up was final- 
ly drowned by a sound that seemed like a roll of 
thunder or an explosion. The Norwegian had 
been lifted off his feet and had struck on the road 
over the culvert. The report called forth applause 
from the crowd. 

The sequel to the foregoing adventure nearly 
lost me my official head as an Inspector of Police. 

The senior inspector who happened to have been 
out of town at the time the arrest was made, and 
who feared a reprimand for his absence, dis- 
patched me to make an important gambling raid, 
saying that he would attend to the making up of 
the charge sheets against the thirteen sailors 
whom I had arrested. The following morning the 
Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, 
Mr. St. Barb, called me, and, to my astonishment, 
asked me where I had been on the previous after- 
noon, and how it was that I had not been present 
to make the arrests of the sailors charged with 
murder! Looking at him, I asked, "Have you 
seen the charge sheets in connection with the case 
to which you refer?" 

' ' I have, ' ' he replied, ' ' they were brought to me 

this morning by Inspector B , the arresting 

officer. You will be called upon to explain why 
you were absent from duty during a serious oc- 
currence of this nature." 

"Very good, sir, my absence requires no ex- 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 211 

planation. I, myself, arrested the thirteen men 
in question. B is a liar." 

"How dare you make such a statement. Inspec- 
tor B came to me yesterday immediately fol- 
lowing the arrest. He was quite exhausted from 
his terrible encounter, so much so that I had to 
give him two or three glasses of brandy to revive 
him." 

At this audacious report of Inspector B I 

could not help but laugh. Turning to the Deputy 

Commissioner again, I said: "Inspector B 

certainly got one on me. Is it too late for me to 
feel a little faint after the encounter of yesterday? 
Brandy, please!" 

With that I left the astonished Deputy Commis- 
sioner, and, going to the District Magistrate's of- 
fice secured Inspector B 's charge sheets in 

which he had, truly enough, shown himself as the 
arresting officer. 

Tearing them up, I made out charge sheets in 
the regular manner and sent them over to the 
Deputy Commissioner for his signature, which ex- 
plained my "absence" from this important duty. 



CHAPTER XXII 

EPIDEMIC OF CHOLERA MY EXPERIENCE IN THE 

CHOLERA SHEDS — I GO TO SLEEP WITH DEAD 
CONVICTS, VICTIMS OF CHOLERA 

In the month of April, 1885, Mr. Carapeet, as- 
sistant superintendent of telegraphs, who had been 
on a tour of inspection, was brought in from the 
jungles suffering from cholera. He had been at- 
tacked two days previously and had experienced 
much difficulty in getting a boatman to bring him 
down the river to Bassein. His condition was 
very serious when he reached Bassein. 

He was placed in a gharry (cab) and driven to 
the central jail about noon in the hope of rinding 
the civil surgeon, who was also superintendent of 
the jail. The chief jailer, Mr. Henry H. Harri- 
son, went from the jail office to the gharry, which 
was outside of the jail. He was horrified to find 
Mr. Carapeet on the floor of the gharry in a help- 
less condition. He ordered the patient to be driv- 
en at once to the hospital about a hundred and 
fifty yards away. 

I was in the District Magistrate's Court prose- 
cuting a case for the Crown when news of poor 
Carapeet 's condition was brought to me. I im- 

212 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 213 

mediately asked permission of the Court to allow 
Inspector Beal to take charge of the case in ques- 
tion, to which he consented. I then hastened to 
the hospital and remained with poor Carapeet up 
to the time of his death, three days later. 

The civil surgeon, who was in charge of the case, 
did not at any time enter the ward to examine the 
patient. He was afraid, he said, of carrying the 
infection into the town, which, being interpreted, 
meant to his own precious carcass. It was this 
inhuman conduct and criminal neglect which 
caused me to stay with the patient to console his 
grief-stricken wife and children. 

Cholera broke out in the jail the evening that 
Mr. Carapeet was brought into the hospital. 

The morning that I rendered my last service 
to my friend, that of closing his eyes in death, I 
was placed in command of a detachment of police 
detailed to guard the two thousand prisoners re- 
moved from the jail to camp on account of the 
cholera epedimic. 

A bamboo cholera shed about 100x20 was erect- 
ed at the back of the jail which it was thought 
would accommodate all the cases. 

This cholera shed was soon full, and another 
shed had to be hastily put up. The daily average 
number of patients for nearly three weeks was two 
hundred and fifty to three hundred. The medical 
staff consisted of the medical officer of the jail, 
and two hospital assistants (East Indians). The 
medical officer every morning and evening "visit- 
ed" the cholera sheds, L e., came within hailing 
distance, using his hands as a megaphone, inquired 



214 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the number of patients, number of deaths, number 
of "admissions" and repeating his wise instruc- 
tions to keep up the same treatment, whatever that 
might mean, took his departure without having 
run any risk of contagion ! 

Eealizing that a couple of native hospital assist- 
ants, no matter how proficient or how zealous to 
duty, could not possibly cope with the tremendous 
task evolved in the routine work of admission, 
and death reports, diet, dispensary, and the thou- 
sand and one details of a prison hospital, and at 
the same time give proper attention to two or 
three hundred cholera cases day and night, I asked 
for and obtained permission to place my junior 
officer in command of the guard, and went into 
the cholera sheds to render what aid I could to 
the unfortunate convicts. 

For a fortnight the epidemic continued un- 
abated, and each day the death roll increased. 
Early in the third week the chief jailor remarked 
to me that "he had enough of it." The terrible 
strain of the last fortnight, day and night duty, 
had, he said, "played him out." He felt that 
he would himself "fall a victim to the epidemic." 

Mr. Harrison was an athlete; a man of strong 
will, and weighed three hundred and twenty 
pounds or more. I endeavored to divert his mind 
from the melancholy subject, and laughed at his 
fears of falling a victim of cholera. 

"Why," I said, "the idea is absurd, you have 
not time even to think about cholera." Leading 
him away from the vicinity of the cholera sheds, 
I accompanied him to his quarters and entertained 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 215 

him for half an hour with stories and light conver- 
sation. I took the precaution to give him a glass 
of brandy with a few drops of spirits of camphor 
before leaving him to return to my duty about 11 
A. M. 

That evening about seven o'clock a messenger 
brought word to me that Mr. Harrison, the chief 
jailer, was down with cholera. I at once went to 
Harrison's quarters and took charge of his case. 
About 10 P. M. the civil surgeon was announced. 
As that celebrated physician appeared at the front 
door and inquired how the patient was (it was not 
his custom, as previously stated, to risk conta- 
gion), the patient said, "Do not let that villain 
come near me, he will kill me as he did poor Cara- 
peet." 

The doctor expressed his sympathy for Mr. 
Harrison and further remarked that he was in 
"good hands." For fifty- four hours I remained 
with my friend, leaving only at intervals to make 
a flying visit to the prisoners' camp and cholera 
shed. About 2 A. M. on the third day after Har- 
rison's attack, I left him sleeping restfully, and 
went to the cholera sheds. 

I passed through the first shed, administering 
medicine to the long rows of patients and also 
nourishment. I then passed into shed number 
two, and as I stood for a moment and looked along 
the ghastly rows of victims of this terrible 
scourge, lying on either side of the bamboo floor, 
so close together that in many cases the patients 
were touching each other and sometimes had to 
be moved to enable me to step between them, I 



216 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

experienced for the first time, as poor Harrison 
had explained, that I too "had had enough of it." 
The constant strain of nearly three weeks' duty, 
night and day, spent almost entirely in the cholera 
sheds, without rest and with but little nourish- 
ment, with the scene of suffering and death that 
beggars description ever before me, was beginning 
to tell upon exhausted nature. I passed along the 
shed, attending to the patients as I had done in 
shed number one until I reached the middle of the 
shed. 

There were about one hundred and fifty cases 
in the shed. I stepped between two patients to 
render them a last service. I had to move one 
of them slightly to enable me to step between 
them. Kneeling on one knee I remained for some 
time watching them. I began to think of the hor- 
rors of the past three weeks ; of the scores of the 
dead that had been carried out from those sheds. 
I tried, while watching the two souls passing from 
before my gaze, to total up the whole number of 
the three weeks' dead. My thoughts passed to 
the Great Beyond, and I wondered what would be 
the future state of all those convicts who had 
died during the epidemic. I bent over to close 
down the eyelids of the Burman on my right, a 
convict no longer — death had released him. 
"Free — at last," — I involuntarily exclaimed, and 
I could not help but feel that the future of that 
patient Buddhist held brighter prospects by far 
than that of some Christians I had known. The 
patient on my left breathed his last. As I leaned 
forward to render the same service to him as I 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 217 

had to the body on my right, my reverie continued, 
— but in oblivion — I had fainted. 

Exhausted nature had asserted itself and I was 
" asleep" with the dead, my head pillowed on the 
breast of a former convict, a corpse. In this posi- 
tion I was later discovered by the hospital assis- 
tant who, needless to say, was terribly alarmed. 
He called for assistance and carried me from the 
shed. 

The chief jailor made rapid progress, and a few 
days later the inspector-general of Prisons, Sur- 
geon General Sinclair, arrived from Rangoon with 
reinforcements for the Medical Department, one 
assistant surgeon and four hospital assistants; 
also a jailor to take up Mr. Harrison's duties. 

News having been brought to me in the cholera 
sheds about eight o'clock one morning, that the 
Inspector General and party had arrived at the 
jail, I proceeded to the jail office. On my way 
down in front of the jail the inspector general and 
party were standing in front of the jail gates. 
When some little distance away I heard Dr. Sin- 
clair ask the civil surgeon, as he waved his hand 
in my direction, ''Who is that gentleman?" To 
which the doctor replied, "The devil, I think." 

That Sinclair was in no mood to tolerate such 
an unprofessional and ungentlemanly remark, was 
shown by the manner in which he demanded an 
explanation. 

"What do you mean, sir?" he said in no gentle 
tone. The doctor added, "A man who can remain 
three weeks in a cholera shed without food or sleep 



218 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

between two corpses and still live must be the devil 
if he's anything." 

Sinclair, giving his subordinate a withering 
look, came forward and extending his hand, said, 
"Inspector, I am most proud to meet you; and I 
beg to thank you in the name of Her Majesty, the 
Queen-Empress, for the service you have ren- 
dered the Prison Department of which I am the 
Inspector General. I would like to add that, if at 
any time you desire the transfer from the police to 
this department I shall be most proud to welcome 
you." 

The words of the Inspector General touched me 
deeply. He did not know how his thanks in the 
name of the Queen-Empress affected me, and I 
could not help but wonder what my grandmother 
would think were she present to see me as I stood, 
physically exhausted from my long watch over 
her convict subjects — natives of India. 

I explained to the Inspector General that I had 
done no more than my duty; first as a public ser- 
vant ; and, secondly, as a man to my brother man. 
In thanking him for his kind assurance of a warm 
welcome to the prison service, I explained that, 
"being a police officer I may find myself in jail 
soon enough, as I am of opinion that it is the place 
where most policemen ought to be." 



CHAPTER XXIII 

I AMUSE THE GENERAl/s DAUGHTEES DETECTIVE DUTY 

CHASING DACOITS A WILD DRIVE VISIT OP 

THE VICEROY RANGOON EN FETE 

ET EN GRANDE TENUE 

At the close of the shipping season I was trans- 
ferred to the charge of the Cantonment Division 
in the capital city of Eangoon. The Cantonment 
Division, which included the military and Euro- 
pean section, was the most important charge in 
the capital. My division covered an extensive ter- 
ritory outside of the Cantonment lines. My head- 
quarters faced the ornamental public gardens and 
was within a hundred yards of the celebrated 
Shwedagon Pagoda, the place of pilgrimage for 
Buddhists from all countries. There was a great 
deal of crime in the city of Rangoon, and violent 
crime increased from year to year; not that the 
people of the country were any more dishonest or 
more murderously disposed after the British oc- 
cupation than they were previous thereto, when 
there were no jails, but because of the facts above 
stated. A petty farmer who spends one thousand 
dollars to cultivate a crop of rice on a few acres 
of land, and then is forced to hand it over to the 
German miller for from six hundred to eight hun- 

219 



.":20 Memoirs of Prince John Dc Guelph 

dred dollars soon finds himself under the necessity 
of looking elsewhere for the support of himself and 
family. He is forced into crime. 

The General commanding the Division of Ran- 
goon, whose bungalow stood in the center of large 
well kept grounds, reported a number of thefts of 
plants, shrubs and flowers from his beautiful gar- 
dens. All my efforts to trap the thieves proved 
futile for some weeks. The General became impa- 
tient at my apparent incompetency as well as that 
of the whole force under my command and report- 
ed to the Inspector-General of Police, Colonel 
Lowndes, direct, thinking possibly that the Inspec- 
tor-General might, himself, watch the General's 
precious shrubs. 

Now there was a military guard of twelve men 
and two non-commissioned officers on duty at the 
General's house, and three sentries being on duty 
in the grounds from which the plants were disap- 
pearing. I had previously suggested to the Gen- 
eral that I would station one of my men inside of 
the grounds to catch the thief, and that it was use- 
less for me to place a man outside for the reason 
that in my opinion the thief or thieves were none 
other than his own sentries or members of his 
guard. It was this assertion, I think, which led 
him to report the matter to the Inspector-General. 
One evening when I returned to my headquarters 
from a raid on a Chinese illicit still, I found a mes- 
sage awaiting me from the Inspector-General of 
Police instructing me to take such measures as I 
might think necessary to secure the arrest of the 
thieves of the General's plants. I drove around to 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 221 

the police station of the quarter in which the Gen- 
eral's residence was located. I ordered a sergeant 
and four men to take up positions at various points 
in the grounds and to remain in the shade, without 
letting the military sentries know of their presence 
and to remain so concealed while on the lookout 
for the plant thief. I then drove into the com- 
pound up to the General's house. My high dog- 
cart was of a similar build to that of the General 
commanding the Division. As I drove into the 
gate in the darkness of the night I observed two 
beautiful young ladies, daughters of the General, 
at the window. Simultaneously they cried, ' ' Papa ! 
papa! — and, turning from the window, ran down- 
stairs to greet their fond parent. As I pulled up 
near the house, they ran up to me with the excla- 
mation, "You dear old thing, you have come home, 
we are so glad." 

Leaping lightly from my dog-cart I stood before 
them — a Chinaman! Before they had recovered 
from their astonishment, extending a hand to each 
I said, "You little darlings, I am very pleased to 
be here." 

One of them at last found her tongue, and asked, 
"Whatever does this mean?" 

Explanations were soon forthcoming. I had 
been making a call on some Chinese and had 
dressed in costume for the occasion. Having re- 
ceived intimation on my return to headquarters 
of the renewed thefts of their beautiful plants I 
had lost no time in coming round, lest, perchance, 
the thieves might steal the two most beautiful 
flowers in the garden during papa's absence. 



&#& Memoirs of Prince John De GuclpJi 

They were naturally interested in me attired as 
I was, and also in my recent exploit among the 
Chinese. I entertained the young ladies for some 
time with accounts of interesting adventures of a 
police inspector. We had been thus engaged for 
about twenty minutes when there was some little 
commotion at a point of the grounds at the back 
of the house. 

"Whatever is the matter?" cried one of the 
young ladies. 

" Nothing to alarm you," I said; "some of my 
men have, I think, caught the flower thief." 

The next moment my sergeant and a couple of 
men came forward with one of the General's 
guard, carrying a few choice shrubs. I had de- 
clined the invitation of the young ladies to go up 
to the drawing room, as I wished to be on hand in 
order to be on the ground when the thief was 
caught, so as to avoid possible complications be- 
tween the military guard and the police. 

Most of the missions and mission schools and 
colleges are located in the Cantonment Division of 
Eangoon. To revise the operations of these insti- 
tutions through the official field-glass of police a 
striking contrast is presented to the religious as- 
pect with which the merely ordinary visitor is 
impressed. 

My investigations and experience in various de- 
partments of service, and in the economic and so- 
cial affairs of Asia, enabled me to observe the dis- 
advantages under which the Christian missions 
are laboring, and at the same time to see the weak 
points in the policy of the various missions 






Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph %%3 

operating in Asia, and the cause of the great mis- 
sionary failure of which we have heard so much. 

In discussing the missionary question with mis- 
sionaries both at home and abroad I am forced to 
the conclusion that the observant official is the 
critic whose criticism should be accepted in the 
spirit in which it is given, for the* purpose of 
eliminating such part of the field policy as is dis- 
advantageous to missionary effort and for the in- 
troduction of measures calculated to effectively 
advance the kingdom of God. This subject is 
treated upon in a later chapter. 

About the month of February, 1886, I was sent 
on special detective duty to Pyuntaza in the Shweg- 
yien district, where a band of dacoits had been 
terrorizing the whole district for some three years. 
Various district superintendents of police had lost 
their official heads for having failed to account for 
this band of a hundred desperate rebels. On re- 
ceipt of telegraphic communication that District 
Superintendent Porter, one of the most experi- 
enced and efficient officers in the service, had shot 
himself when asked to explain why he had failed to 
answer for this party, I was ordered to proceed, 
on half an hour's notice, to take charge of that 
district. 

When the Inspector-General telephoned to me 
of Porter's suicide, instructing me to make over 
charge of my division and- meet him at the station 
in half an hour's time to accompany him to Pyun- 
taza to take command of an expedition, in which 
military and police alike had failed, I laughingly 
told him that I thought he had a better opinion of 



224 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

me. He said I did not seem to realize the honor 
he was conferring upon me by selecting me, the 
junior inspector in the department, to succeed the 
senior district superintendent. I assured him that 
I fully appreciated the honor, but as this partic- 
ular command had led my predecessors to dis- 
grace and death, it would appear on the face of it 
that he desired to bring my career to a speedy end. 
To this he replied, "No, but I wish to bring the 
career of that gang of rebels to a speedy end and 
you are the one man to do it. Can you get to the 
station in time to meet the train? If not, I will 
order a special." 

"I will be there," I answered. Within two 
months from the time I took charge of this impor- 
tant post, the district was clear of the band of da- 
coits in question. 

I attributed the failure of my predecessors to 
the strength of their forces. There were three 
companies of infantry and about two hundred po- 
lice at Headquarters, the whole of which force was 
at their command. In addition to this force there 
were some three hundred or more police in the va- 
rious towns and villages through the district. As 
the rebels had a perfect system of scouting, with 
representatives throughout the district gaining 
information of the movements of the troops, while 
the main body kept to the jungles, turning up in 
the most unexpected quarters, it was impossible 
for the troops to get near them. By the time the 
military would arrive at the scene of the last dep- 
redation in the south, word would be received of 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 2S5 

another town being burned a hundred or more 
miles north. 

Selecting two men, I took train to Paungdawthe, 
and from there rode to Bawnee, a village of about 
two hundred houses, where I obtained information 
of the rebels. Notwithstanding all the precautions 
I had taken to fool the dacoits, they were aware 
of my presence in Bawnee, and some weeks later 
burned that village for the purpose of intimidating 
the people throughout the district. 

Hence, it will be seen that it was very difficult to 
obtain reliable information concerning the move- 
ments of the dacoits, and much more so to give evi- 
dence against them in the villages, as it would 
mean death to the people giving evidence against 
them. 

I was one day called to headquarters through a 
special courier from the Deputy Commissioner, 
who sent word that the dacoits were within a few 
miles of headquarters, and it was said that they 
would attack the town that night. Poor Deputy 
Commissioner ! He had twenty European officers 
and two thousand men if he needed them within 
call, and yet 'he did not feel competent to defend 
the town against an attack of a handful of rebels, 
without the assistance of myself and my two men. 
Sending my two men to strengthen the Bawnee 
station I rode into Paungdawthe, a distance of six- 
teen miles, through the jungle, where I arrived 
without incident except that my journey was ob- 
structed by a tiger, which resented being disturbed 
from a nap on the jungle trail. Having no rifle, I 



2£6 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

had to negotiate with Master Stripes for the right 
of way, in which I was successful. 

Needless to say that on my arrival by train at 
my headquarters in Pyuntaza from Paungdawthe 
investigation showed that the alarm was occa- 
sioned by a false report. I again set out for Baw- 
nee. On reaching a village three miles from the 
town I learned that a band of a hundred and fifty 
men had been seen about four or five hours previ- 
ous on the road to Bawnee. I was about to gallop 
on to that place when a refugee from there ar- 
rived with the report that Bawnee had been sacked 
and burned and was still in flames. 

I lost no time in reaching the scene of disturb- 
ance. On arriving there, I found the place desert- 
ed with the exception of about half a dozen men 
sitting in a bamboo shanty on the outskirts of the 
town, which had escaped the fire. They turned out 
to be villagers. 

With their aid I got together some twenty vil- 
lagers, which party, added to my ten policemen of 
the Bawnee station, who had discreetly retired to 
the jungles during the occupation of the town by 
the rebels, made quite an imposing expedition. 

Having despatched a couple of couriers by dif- 
ferent routes to headquarters with instructions to 
have troops rushed to different points north to in- 
tercept the rebels, I started in pursuit, and on re- 
ceiving my reinforcements succeeded in breaking 
up the band. 

About a week before I went to Pyuntaza I had 
received a present of a wild horse just caught in 
the Shan States in Upper Burma. It took two 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 227 

grooms and a few assistants from 7.00 A. M. to 1.00 
P. M. to bring the animal from the steamer to 
Police Headquarters in Cantonments, a distance 
of about a mile and a half. The blacksmith in 
shoeing the animal had to throw him and tie his 
legs. He had never been ridden nor had any 
harness on. 

While I was on special dacoit duty, the Viceroy 
and Governor- General in India, Lord Dufferin, 
paid a visit to Burma. The evening previous to 
his arrival in Rangoon, I decided to take a vacation 
and run down to Rangoon to be present at the offi- 
cial reception. I arrived at the headquarters 
about half an hour before the time set for the Vice- 
roy to land. With the exception of half a dozen 
policemen the place was deserted; and the only 
horse in my stables was the wild chestnut. There 
was nothing for it, therefore, but to put him in 
the high dog-cart, the only vehicle left, if I would 
reach the landing place on time. I got him har- 
nessed and put him in the dog-cart, and started on 
the wildest drive of my life. 

The animal bounded out of the gate of the sta- 
tion yard, but instead of turning to the right down 
the Godwin Road, as I desired, he bolted through 
the gate into the public gardens to the Pagoda 
Road, on which runs a double track steam tram- 
way, with large shade trees on either side of the 
road, leaving barely room for a carriage drive. 
Here I was successful in turning him to the right, 
possibly because the steam train was coming from 
the opposite direction. I made record time in get- 
ting down Pagoda Road and turned into the 



228 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

Strand, which was lined with troops and crowds 
of people. The road had been cleared for the pro- 
cession. Sergeants in charge of police stations I 
passed en route, being much impressed by the pace 
I was traveling, telephoned to the Inspector-Gen- 
eral at the landing place that something very seri- 
ous had happened, as I had arrived in town, and 
was then driving at a furious rate on my way to 
the landing station. 

My chestnut and I created quite a sensation all 
along the route of the procession. I arrived at the 
landing stage just as the Viceroy was landing at 
the other end. The Inspector-General of Police 
and other officials, instead of waiting to receive the 
Viceroy, had come out to ascertain the cause of my 
meteoric arrival. Great excitement prevailed 
among the thousands of guests occupying the 
chairs on the landing stage. As I drove up the In- 
spector-General, stepping forward, sung out, 
"What the devil has happened?" I managed to 
pull up about thirty yards beyond the landing 
stage. Jumping from my dog-cart, while a number 
of policemen took charge of my horse, I turned to 
the Inspector-General and other officials, who had 
followed me up, calling out, "What the devil has 
happened?" "Nothing; I have simply run in to 
pay my respects to the Viceroy." "Your respects 

to the Viceroy be d d, sir. Why the devil did 

you alarm the town by driving at that break-neck 
speed?" 

I suggested that he might ' ' try my gentle beast 
himself" if he thought he could handle him better. 
I then suggested that as the Viceroy's procession 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 229 

was about to start we might invite His Excellency 
to lead with my chestnut. 

This was horse-breaking with a vengeance, and 
after that I could do anything with him. He would 
follow me about like a dog, but, strange to relate 
that when, some four years later, I presented my 
favorite to a friend, no one was ever able to man- 
age him. He ran away many times, causing nu- 
merous accidents, and became very vicious. 



CHAPTEE XXIV 

TRANSFERRED TO MANDALAY, I AM PLACED IN COMMAND 

OF THE BURMA MILITARY POLICE AMBUSHED AND 

CAPTURED, I SURPRISE MY CAPTORS 

I was transferred to Mandalay about the month 
of June, 1886, and assigned to duty as Senior In- 
spector in the City of Mandalay. 

The officer of the Inspector-General of Police, 
Colonel Lowndes, was, like the Military Headquar- 
ters, located in the palace of the deposed King 
Theebaw. The police headquarters of the Man- 
dalay District was located within the city near the 
palace gates. The District Superintendent of Po- 
lice, Mr. Ford, being ill, the responsibility of that 
office fell upon me. 

My tenure of office as acting District Superin- 
tendent of the Civil Police was of short duration, 
as I was transferred to the command of the head- 
quarters of the Burma Military Police, stationed 
in the King's monasteries some three miles to the 
southeast of Mandalay. 

The position held by my command was the most 
important in Mandalay, being at the extreme end 
of the line of troops garrisoning the frontier un- 
der the range of mountains running north and 
south the Yankintoung, and the most liable to 
attack. 

230 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 231 

At the extreme northern end of the line was sta- 
tioned the artillery and a little further south the 
cavalry, and about another half-mile further south 
the 66th British Infantry, while adjoining their 
lines was stationed a regiment of Gourkas, and 
some six hundred yards to the south the Police 
Levy, and half a mile from that post, the head- 
quarters of the Burma Military Policemen, and a 
few hundred yards still further to the south, an 
outpost furnished from my command. 

The Burma Military Police was composed of 
officers, non-commissioned officers and men from 
the various regiments of the Punjab and North- 
western Provinces, the best men that could be se- 
lected from the Indian Army. 

The Burma Military Police were drafted to ev- 
ery district throughout Upper Burma and played 
the most important part in the pacification of the 
country. The headquarters at Mandalay was kept 
up to the full battalion strength and drafted con- 
tingents to the interior as reinforcements arrived 
from India. The work entailed in thus constantly 
receiving and drafting troops, added to the drills 
and instruction of troops to raise their efficiency 
to meet the requirements of the changed condi- 
tions, and general military duties, was enormous. 

The responsibility of this command was greater 
than that of any regiment in Upper Burma, and 
called for the appointment of a colonel with full 
complement of field officers, a fact to which I, on 
more than one occasion, called the attention of the 
Inspector-General of Police and the General com- 
manding the forces. I also pointed out that I only 



232 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

held the rank of inspector of police, while a num- 
ber of British officers attached to my command 
were my superiors in rank. 

In reply to these objections raised by me the In- 
spector-General has often assured me that I was 
the only man in Burma best qualified for that par- 
ticular command, and that I should be promoted on 
the first vacancy. I was repeatedly thanked by the 
General commanding the forces in Burma and the 
Inspector-General of Police for the high efficiency 
of the military police and for the expeditious man- 
ner in which the efficiency of the troops was raised 
and transferred throughout the country, without a 
single mishap. 

When it is understood that hardly a night passed 
that the sentries of the different commands along 
the line and the patrols were not fired upon, and, 
that all patrols from all parts of Mandalay, north, 
east, south and west, had to report at my head- 
quarters, some idea of the difficulty of my position 
may be comprehended. 

It was my custom to go about the country at all 
hours of the day or night unarmed and without 
escort. 

One evening on my return from the palace I 
called in at the officers ' mess of the 66th Eegiment, 
where I remained for dinner. After dinner one of 
my inspectors, De la Taste, came into the mess 
and we remained for some time. 

We were riding quietly on our way home, when 
we heard firing at our headquarters. Putting 
spurs to our horses we galloped off, expecting that 
we were in for a little fun. About three hundred 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 233 

yards from our headquarters a small wooden 
bridge crossed the road. As we were going along 
at full speed, neck to neck, De la Taste's charger 
made a jump at the bridge, and the last I saw of 
De la Taste he was turning somersaults in the air 
and landed on his back clear over the bridge. I 
could not stop to pick him up, but on reaching my 
command, I sent an escort to carry him in. He 
was not much the worse for the experience. The 
firing had been occasioned by a small party of the 
evening having crept up to the walls and fired on 
some of my sentries. They made off under cover 
of darkness, and no trace of them could be found. 

When riding back to my quarters from the 66th 
officers' mess one night shortly after midnight, en- 
joying the cool night air and in no hurry to reach 
my destination, I was suddenly surprised by eight 
armed men springing out from the darkness on 
either side of the road, four of them seizing my 
horse's head, the other four coming up on either 
side of my saddle. They politely informed me that 
they would take charge of my horse and my per- 
son. Thanking them for the courtesy I told them 
that I thought my horse was well able to take 
charge of himself, while as for me if I desired 
company I preferred to choose my own. 

My apparent indifference to my changed situa- 
tion had the desired effect. The bump of humor 
is very strongly developed in the Burman, and you 
may save your hide every time by appealing to 
their humor, in that you gain time by the joke. 

They laughed but persisted in trying to impress 
upon me that neither my horse nor I had any 



234 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

choice in the matter. I told them that I thought 
we had, and asked them to get the opinion of the 
horse on the subject. 

This amused them a great deal, but as there was 
no time to lose, they said, that as they did not un- 
derstand horse language, we would have to move 
on, and raised their dhas (swords) menacingly and 
prepared to lead my horse. 

I was, as usual, unarmed — a hunting crop being 
my only weapon. I told my captors that a perfect 
understanding existed between me and my horse 
and that we both protested against their interfer- 
ence, and therefore requested that they would take 
their departure. As they failed to do this I brought 
my hunting crop into play about their heads, while 
a touch of the spur to my horse shook off the rebels 
like so many grasshoppers. The yells set up by 
the fellows rolling on the ground brought an officer 
and escort from the guard of the Gourka Regiment 
to the scene. Making known my identity as the 
party approached, I instructed the officer to pick 
up the half dozen who had fallen under the hammer 
of my hunting crop, and if possible to catch the 
two who had taken to their heels. 

The officer wished to send an escort with me to 
my headquarters, but I declined, preferring to fin- 
ish the journey as I had commenced, alone. 

I have stated above that the Inspector-General, 
Colonel Lowndes, had promised me promotion to 
a rank suited to my command on the first vacancy. 
Unfortunately Colonel Lowndes was relieved by 
Mr. W. W. Daly before a vacancy occurred. 

Mr. Daly came from the Northwestern Prov- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 235 

inces, and, judging from the number of half-castes 
he brought from the Northwest and appointed as 
inspectors and assistants to superintendents of po- 
lice, he must have had a large acquaintance among 
native and Eurasian women of the Northwest 
Provinces. 

These young half-castes were as ignorant of the 
duties of a police inspector as they were of the 
language and of the customs and manners of the 
people of Burma. 

Colonel Lowndes, on being relieved by Daly, in- 
formed him in my presence that I was slated for 
the first assistant superintendentship vacant. Not- 
withstanding this specific instruction, Daly created 
half a dozen vacancies for half-caste bastards from 
the Punjab and took every opportunity to insult 
me and to make things as unpleasant as possible. 

I demanded to be relieved from my military 
command and to be returned to the civil police, to 
which I belonged. To this Daly would not agree. 
He took the position that he had no one fitted to 
take my place. Having become thoroughly dis- 
gusted with his attitude toward me, I told him 
that he could send to the Northwest for another 
of his half-caste bastards to put in my place and 
that I intended to resign. I told him that the ap- 
pointments made by him and the mess he was mak- 
ing of the Department generally showed that he 
was no more qualified for the important office of 
Inspector-General than was any one of his ap- 
pointees. I also told him that he would be ousted 
from that office within a year and that he had bet- 



236 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ter keep his family at home in the Northwest, to 
save traveling expenses. 

My straight talk to Mr. Daly was rewarded by a 
manifestation of vindictiveness and hatred such as 
I had never witnessed. 

Shortly after the above scene a charge was 
trumped up against me which was so preposterous 
on the face of it that it was at once thrown out. 
Indeed, had there been any foundation for it every 
British officer, civil and military, would have been 
equally liable, not excepting Daly himself. 

I resigned from the Police Department and took 
a vacation. My superior officer, Inspector-General 
Daly, was removed from the Department and sent 
back to the Northwestern Provinces within the 
year, as I had predicted. 



CHAPTER XXV 

I ENTER THE PRISON SERVICE — I SUPERSEDE MY SUPE- 
RIORS INNOVATION IN PRISON ADMINISTRATION 

A STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY THE PRACTICAL 

APPLICATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL-PSY- 
CHOLOGY TO ABNORMAL DATA AS 
FOUND IN THE INCORRIGIBLE 
CRIMINAL 

On returning to Rangoon in 1887, I called on 
the Inspector-General of Prisons, Dr. Sinclair, and 
explained that I would be pleased to avail myself 
of his invitation to join the Prison Service. He 
said there was only one vacancy in the Depart- 
ment and that was for a warder in the Rangoon 
Central Jail. I told him the wardership was good 
enough for me ; that I wanted to get into jail any 
way, and that I might as well be there as a warder 
as in any other capacity. 

Dr. Sinclair gave me a letter to the superintend- 
ent of the jail and suggested that I should present 
it at once, which I did. 

The superintendent, who was a stranger to me, 
on looking me over, said, "I am sorry, but there 
is no vacancy in this jail." 

"But," I replied, "the Inspector-General told 
me that there is a vacancy. "Well," said the 



238 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

superintendent, " there are many applicants for 
the appointment, and you are too delicate for the 
duties of a warder. I can not appoint you." 

Thanking him for the information about my 
delicate constitution, I wished him "good morn- 
ing." 

As I left the jail I met the Inspector-General 
approaching in his dog-cart. He pulled up, say- 
ing, ' ' Where are you going f " "To the nursery, ' ' 
I replied. "To what! — To the nursery!" he ex- 
claimed. 

"Yes," I said, "the superintendent thinks I'm 
too delicate to be allowed out alone." 

The Inspector-General laughed and asked me to 
return to the office. The Inspector-General in- 
structed the superintendent to appoint me to the 
vacancy. The superintendent protested declaring 
that I was too delicate, and that as he was respon- 
sible for the jail he had a right to select his own 
staff and he wanted men of muscular strength, men 
of vigor and energy. 

Sinclair laughed at him, and said, "Do you know 
this gentleman? Perhaps you have heard of an 
Inspector of Police who arrested, single-handed, 
thirteen European sailors who were all armed 
while the inspector was unarmed. You may have 
heard of the cholera epidemic in the Bassein jail 
between two and three years ago and of an inspec- 
tor of police who voluntarily served in the cholera 
sheds for three weeks practically without food and 
without rest; the man who saved Harrison's life 
and who did more through that epidemic than the 
whole medical staff put together. You may have 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 2*9 

heard of the inspector who was sent to take the 
place of the district superintendent, Mr. Porter, 
who shot himself in Shwegien, and who went in 
pursuit of a hundred armed rebels, and broke up 
their band — the inspector of police who has been 
looked upon by European and natives as a "holy 
terror,' — a man who has no fears, and who never 
failed. This is the inspector to whom I refer — 
the man whom you say is too delicate to be trusted 
to the charge of convicts. I will undertake to say 
that if you have an outbreak in this jail among 
the five thousand convicts, this delicate individual 
will be the man to suppress it. He is appointed to 
the position." 

Eleven months after joining the prison service 
I was promoted to the office of deputy jailer of 
Rangoon, superseding the jailers, deputy jailers 
of the various jails throughout the country, an 
honor which came as a complete surprise to me. 
Hitherto I had had charge of about three thousand 
five hundred convicts employed in the various 
work sheds at all manner of trades, where I was 
responsible for the quality of the work turned out. 

I will enumerate a few of the works under my 
supervision. Receiving raw cotton, ginning, spin- 
ning, warping, looming and weaving into fabrics 
and finally converting the fabrics into clothes, was 
one line of industry. 

I had over three hundred looms in operation all 
the year round. I not only made all the clothing 
for our family of five thousand convicts, but fur- 
nished a lot of cloth for our salesmen. 

There was the saw-yard in which logs of teak 



240 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

and other timber were converted into lumber of 
various descriptions. More than a thousand men 
were employed as carpenters, cabinet makers, 
polishers, upholsterers, coach builders, turners and 
wood carvers. 

Every conceivable description of household fur- 
niture; dog-carts and vehicles of all kinds were 
manufactured. Cane and bamboo were converted 
into every conceivable description of rattan and 
bamboo furniture, baskets and bric-a-brac, mats 
and screens. 

The husk or outer shell of the cocoanut was con- 
verted into coir and from that into cocoanut mat- 
ting, door-mats, screens, rope, and a hundred and 
one other articles of utility. 

Some two hundred men were employed in the 
blacksmith shop and foundry ; and about two hun- 
dred in the flour mills and as many more in the oil 
mills. To supervise these varied manufactures 
and to be responsible for the quality of the work 
of three thousand men and the prompt fulfilment 
of outside orders was a Herculean task, but in 
addition to all this I was responsible for the dis- 
cipline and the general supervision of all the con- 
victs, and the placing of them at the various tasks. 

A work of many volumes would be necessary 
to portray or recount in detail the many valuable 
and interesting features of the administration of 
the jails with which I was connected and the vari- 
ous reforms I introduced. 

I can not do more than barely touch upon this 
important subject by relating a few incidents of 
my five years' service. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 241 

When I first entered the prison service I was 
struck with the large number of convicts wearing 
short fetters and cross-bar and ''bad character" 
clothing. 

One man known as "Long John" was confined 
in the ' ' strong shed, ' ' and was never allowed with 
other convicts. 

Originally sentenced to six months' vigorous im- 
prisonment for an alleged assault, Long John, in 
1887, had served eighteen years and had about 
eight years unexpired portion of his sentence to 
serve. 

Long John belonged to one of the leading Bur- 
mese families. The disgrace of the imprisonment 
and the greater disgrace of having had his beauti- 
ful long hair cut turned this man against the Brit- 
ish. He declared there was no ground for the of- 
fence for which he had been punished; a mere al- 
tercation between himself and another man. 

Resenting the injustice of his first sentence and 
disgrace, he assaulted every English official who 
came within his reach. For these offences he had 
been tried and sentenced from time to time, thus 
adding about twenty-eight years to his original 
sentence of six months. 

For several years no British official had gone 
near him, and I was cautioned against entering 
his place of confinement. 

On the occasion of my first official visit to him, 
I ordered the turnkey to unlock the door of the 
prisoner's strongshed. This done I left my order- 
ly outside and entered alone. 

Going up to the convict I took hold of his history 



242 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ticket, which is attached to an iron ring aronnd his 
neck. After observing the date of his sentence, 
and sections of the penal code under which he had 
been tried, I looked into the astonished man's eyes, 
saying, "You appear to have been mistaken for a 
wild beast; hereafter you will be looked upon 
and trusted as a man. I am going to have 
those short fetters and cross-bar removed, and this 
striped (bad character) clothing changed for or- 
dinary clothing, then I shall send you from this 
cage to work in the workshops. I shall look for- 
ward to entering up your remission marks every 
week, and to making you a warder as soon as you 
have earned the marks." 

Firmness tempered with kindness saved Long 
John, and in due time restored him to his family 
a respected member of society. 

Cha Gyi (the great tiger) was an appropriate 
name for a convict who was scarred like a chess 
board from the crown of his head to his feet 
with sword wounds. The most notorious criminal 
and convict ever incarcerated in the Rangoon Cen- 
tral jail. Cha Gyi was an old offender, having 
served several terms of penal servitude. He was 
kept constantly in short fetters and cross bar (a 
.ourteen inch triangle of three-quarter inch iron at- 
tached to ankle rings). He was flogged about once 
a month for a long time for offences against jail 
rules, and was kept where he could harm nobody. 

I removed his fetters and put him in the carpen- 
ter 's shop to work. 

In order to create the psychological impression 
desired, I gave Cha Gyi an adze (the most danger- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph MS 

ous weapon possible in the hands of a desperate 
criminal) to knock off the knots of a log, as the 
work for which he was best suited. I visited the 
work shop unarmed and unattended, turned my 
back to Cha Gyi's adze and in this way turned the 
greatest criminal into a man, who subsequently be- 
came my trusted orderly and bodyguard. 

The innovation in the administration of the jail 
by the substitution of the application of physiolo- 
gical-psychology for corporal punishment, short 
fetters and cross-bars, resulted in better discipline, 
better work and a pleasanter atmosphere within 
the prison walls. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

PRISON REFORMS WHICH AFFECT THE JUDICIAL DEPART- 
MENT AND PUT A STOP TO WHOLESALE 
EXECUTIONS 

Following the close of the last Burma war a 
large number of Burmans who still resisted British 
rule, were arrested and tried under the penal code 
with the result that several thousand prisoners 
were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment and 
penal servitude and wholesale executions were car- 
ried out at the Central jails. 

In the Rangoon Central jail the forty cells for 
condemned prisoners were kept occupied for many 
months and executions were of almost daily occur- 
rence. It frequently happened that four men 
would be executed together, to be followed by four 
more the next morning. It was, in fact, a rare oc- 
currence in those days that a single execution took 
place, the date set for the execution of two, three 
or four men being more frequently the same. 

The executions were carried out at five o'clock 
under the direction of the superintendent of the 
jail, the chief jailer, assistant jailers and ward- 
ers and the medical staff being present. 

Notwithstanding the large number of executions, 
the system of hanging was barbarous to a degree. 

244 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 245 

The executions were carried out by a native con- 
vict and it was no uncommon thing for a condemn- 
ed man to have the rope around his neck for fifteen 
or twenty minutes before the trap was sprung. 
There was no excuse for this torture. 

One morning we had four men to be executed 
together. The condemned men were paraded at 
the foot of the gallows. The superintendent read 
the warrant of the first man in the usual manner, 
and asked if he had anything to say. He had not. 
He was then taken to the gallows, the rope was 
placed about his neck, his arms and legs strapped. 
In the meantime the superintendent was going 
through the formality of reading the warrants of 
the other prisoners who were handed over in suc- 
cession to the executioner. The third and fourth 
men had statements to make, which were taken 
down. The torture of mind of numbers one and 
two as they stood on the gallows, pinioned, with 
the rope around their necks, and the cap drawn 
over their heads, during these formalities and 
statements may be better imagined than described. 

When the executions were over, I turned to the 
superintendent, Dr. MacDonald, and said, "Doc- 
tor, this sort of thing has to stop." 

He turned on me in astonishment; and well he 
might at the insubordinate nature of my remark. 

"What the devil do you mean?" he asked. 

"I mean, sir, that the first man you sent to the 
gallows stood there with the rope about his neck 
for twenty-two minutes before you gave the signal 
for the drop. Imagine yourself in that man's 
place. You would need the rope to support you." 



£46 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

To this explosion of just indignation the super- 
intendent replied, "I carried out the executions as 
expeditiously as possible. Could you have done 
better?" 

"I could," I replied. 

"Then," said he, "there are four more men to 
be executed to-morrow morning. Will you, sir, 
superintend those executions ? ' ' 

"I will," I replied. 

1 < Very good, it is understood that you will take 
charge of the executions to-morrow morning," 
whereupon he turned on his heel and left in no 
pleasant mood. 

The following morning the prison staff gathered 
to witness the executions as usual. The prisoners 
were brought out. The superintendent on being 
handed the warrants of the four condemned men 
looked at me and said, "Are you ready?" 

"Yes, sir, I am ready," I replied. 

I had myself tested the ropes and carefully ad- 
justed the length of the drop for each of the con- 
demned men according to height and weight. 

The warrant of the first man having been read, 
the superintendent, turning to me, said, "Take 
this prisoner." 

I instructed the prisoner to step forward. The 
superintendent therefore said, "Take this pris- 
oner on the gallows. ' ' 

"How many men are to be executed this morn- 
ing?" I demanded. 

"Four, sir," roared the superintendent. 

"At what hour are the other three to be execut- 
ed?" I asked. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 247 

"They are all to be executed together," said 
the superintendent. 

"Very good," I replied, "When you have made 
over the four condemned men I will attend to my 
duty; you attend to yours." 

"Take that man to the gallows," again thun- 
dered the superintendent. 

"I am responsible for the executions," I replied, 
"perform your own duty, sir, and leave me to 
mine. If you wish this man to be executed sepa- 
rately I will have the execution carried out ; but, if 
the four men are to be executed together, they 
will go on the gallows together." 

The superintendent was furious, but proceeded 
with the reading of the warrants. When the four 
condemned men had been handed over to me, I had 
them escorted onto the gallows. They were pinion- 
ed and the ropes and caps adjusted by the men I 
had detailed for that duty, and the trap was sprung 
within ten seconds from the time the condemned 
men reached the gallows. The executions were a 
complete success from a humane standpoint, the 
neck being broken in each case. 

The superintendent was very much pleased and 
congratulated me for my persistency in regard to 
the manner of conducting the executions. Need- 
less to say the reform thus introduced was there- 
after observed in the Rangoon Central prison. 

For some months I had been studying ways and 
means to put a stop to these unjust and wholesale 
executions. 

This was a difficult matter as, in my official 
capacity as the deputy jailer, I could not in any 



2*8 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

way interfere with the judicial department or with 
the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court or the local 
government. At length an unexpected opportunity 
presented itself. A Burmese boy, in his sixteenth 
year, who had been sentenced to serve seven years 
of penal servitude under sections 395 and 396 of the 
Indian Penal Code, for dacoity and murder, ap- 
pealed to the Supreme Court against the sentence. 

A brief outline of this case will illustrate how 
many of the unfortunate men executed were vic- 
tims of injustice. 

The military authorities having received infor- 
mation that a band of rebels contemplated an at- 
tack upon a village in Upper Burma at a given 
time, an expedition was sent for the purpose of 
protecting the village. 

The rebels attacked the village only a few min- 
utes before the arrival of the troops; they were, 
in fact, sacking the place when the troops arrived 
on the scene. The villagers had abandoned their 
homes on the approach of the rebels and had taken 
to the jungle. The rebels in turn ran from the 
troops, who pursued them through the jungle. 
The villagers, frightened by the fire of the troops, 
ran in all directions. It was impossible to dis- 
tinguish between rebels and villagers. The boy 
above referred to, who belonged to the village, was 
shot through the thigh and was the only person 
captured. As he was running away it was con- 
cluded that he was a rebel and was accordingly 
sent up for trial, convicted and sentenced as stated 
to serve seven years penal servitude. 

The day that his appeal was brought before the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 249 

Appellate Court, the chief jailer was on duty in 
the evening and received the prisoners from court. 

The following morning I visited the condemned 
cells at about six o'clock. 

On entering the corridor I was astounded to see 
the boy in question in cell No. 1. Taking his his- 
tory ticket, I noticed that the Appellate Court had 
confirmed the finding of the Lower Court, but had 
enhanced the sentence from seven years to — death ! 

"Why are you here," I asked in Burmese. 

ll Cho hpa lo bai" (to be hanged), replied the 
youth. 

"You were sentenced to seven years," I said. 
"How is it you are now sentenced to death?" 

"I was not guilty of the crime for which I was 
sentenced to seven years, so I appealed to the Su- 
preme Court hoping that I would be released, but 
I am to be hanged instead. ' ' 

"You must appeal to the Chief Commissioner," 
I told him. 

The youth smiled sadly as he said, " I am to be 
hanged in three weeks' time as the result of my ap- 
peal. If I appeal to the Chief Commissioner, he 
would probably have me hanged at once. My 
counsel wants me to appeal again but my parents 
think I am right in wishing to live as long as I 
can. So if I do not appeal again I shall live three 
weeks longer." 

"If you will appeal to the Chief Commissioner," 
I said, ' ' the finding and sentence of the courts will 
be set aside and you will be discharged." 

I could not prevail upon the boy to appeal as 
I advised, but I determined that that boy's life 



250 Memoirs of Prince John Be GuelpJi 

should not be sacrificed in this manner. I told him 
that he should "not be hanged." I then passed 
on my rounds, and found that six other prisoners 
whose appeals had also been heard the day pre- 
viously, had had their sentences enhanced from 
various terms of years to capital punishment. 
Here was a pretty state of affairs ; seven men who 
had appealed against what were undoubtedly un- 
just sentences, as in the case of the boy, instead 
of receiving clemency were to be railroaded to the 
gallows. 

The following morning the Rangoon Gazette 
and the London Times published a full account of 
the gross miscarriage of justice against these seven 
condemned prisoners. At 7.30 A. M. when in the 
main jail, I heard a great commotion in the office 
of the superintendent. A few moments later the 
big gates leading into the main jail swung open, 
and the Chief Commissioner with his staff and the 
superintendent of the jail, Dr. Davis, and the chief 
jailer appeared in sight. It was evident that some- 
thing very serious had happened, for the Chief 
Commissioner was talking in a most excited man- 
ner. I expected to see the party turn to the left 
to go to the condemned cells, but they came directly 
up to the main jail. 

Approaching the party I paid my respects to the 
Chief Commissioner. The superintendent of the 
jail, falling a little to the rear of the Chief Com- 
missioner, said to me, sotto-voce, "Where are those 
men?" 

"What men?" I innocently inquired. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 251 
" Ah, I forgot; you have only just joined us, the 
men sentenced to death I mean." 

"The men sentenced to death? Why there are 
forty of them in the condemned cells," I said. 
< < Which of them do you mean V ' For once in my 
service I appeared to not comprehend. The Chief 
Commissioner, having heard the last remark, turn- 
ed abruptly and said severely, "I want the seven 
men whose sentences have been enhanced from im- 
prisonment to death." 

"Very good, Your Excellency, the men are in 
the condemned cells; I shall be pleased to hand 
them over to your orders." 

On discovery that he had been brought out of his 
way, and had to retrace his steps, he was more 
furious than before and I could not help thinking 
that the cablegram he had received from London 
must have called him down very severely. 

Leading the way to the condemned cells I escort- 
ed the party to the cell door of the boy, and, point- 
ing to him said, < ' This, Your Excellency, is the first 
mm, whose sentence was enhanced from seven 
years to death." 

The Chief Commissioner was staggered. 
"This!" he ejaculated, "Why he is a mere 

child!" 

After having asked the boy his name, age, 
charge, and original sentence, the Chief Commis- 
sioner said, "Sentence of death is set aside, the 
original sentence to stand." 

The death sentence in the other six cases was 
set aside in the same manner, after which the party 



252 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

proceeded to the office of the superintendent of the 
jail. 

The Chief Commissioner at once took np the 
investigation. Some jail official, he said, had com- 
mitted a breach of prison rules by giving informa- 
tion to the special representative of the London 
Times and to the local press. The offender must 
be found out and summarily dismissed from the 
service. 

The superintendent got out of an awkward hole 
by shouldering the responsibility of the investiga- 
tion on me. He reminded the Chief Commissioner 
that I was the "celebrated detective" and that I 
could no doubt bring the offender to justice. 
"Just the man," said the Chief Commissioner, 
and addressing me, "if you find the guilty man you 
shall be promoted immediately upon securing con- 
viction against him." 

"I thank you, sir, for your promise of reward," 
I said, "what is my promotion? I am the official 
who gave the information of the cases in question 
to the press." 

Had I struck the Chief Commissioner in the face, 
he could not have been more surprised. 

In reply to his torrent of questions as to why I 
had not reported the matter to him instead of go- 
ing to the press, I told him that as the red tape 
in the judicial department had become so terribly 
tangled that the whole department had apparently 
run wild, it would have been impossible for me to 
unravel it to enable me to place these cases before 
him. My only course of action was through Lon- 
don. The cables were very convenient for the ad- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 253 

justment of such a miscarriage of justice at short 
notice. I further explained that my object in hav- 
ing given publicity to these cases was not merely 
to save the lives of the seven unfortunate men 
whose death sentence he had set aside, but to put 
a stop to the wholesale executions which had been 
going on for a year or more, the majority of 
which men were in my opinion as much the vic- 
tims of injustice as the "mere child" whose death 
sentence had just been set aside. 

The Chief Commissioner said that my audacious 
remarks reflecting on the courts of justice amazed 
him. 

To this I retorted that my remarks could not 
amaze him more than the gross miscarriage of 
justice, the report of which to London had brought 
him there, had amazed the British public, and un- 
less steps were taken to stop the wholesale execu- 
tions, it was my intention to make a full report on 
the matter to Her Majesty the Queen-Empress. 

The number of executions from that time mater- 
ially decreased. I had gained my end at the risk 
of my own liberty, but I was not tried or dismissed 
for my offense, nor, did I get the promised pro- 
motion. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

AN OUTBREAK AMONG CONVICTS WARDERS KILLED AND 

WOUNDED, OTHERS MAKE THEIR ESCAPE 1 RUN 

TO THEIR ASSISTANCE AND FIND MYSELF UN- 
ARMED AND UNSUPPORTED BEFORE TWO 
THOUSAND ARMED CONVICTS 

The Rangoon Central Jail opened at 5.30 A. M. 
The convicts, numbering from four thousand to 
five thousand, were marched to their respective 
work-yards by six o'clock. About three thousand 
men were employed in what is termed the "round 
house, ' ' which is constructed on the plan of a huge 
wheel, the hub being the office of the assistant 
jailer in charge and work-shop at the same time. 
Shoemakers and tailors were on the ground floor 
on which the office was located, a store-room and 
lookout tower being above. The spokes were rep- 
resented by twenty-one work-sheds, with from one 
hundred to two hundred convicts in each. About 
another thousand men in adjoining work-yards 
were engaged as sawyers, carpenters, coach-build- 
ers and blacksmiths. 

At 8 A. M. the convicts were marched to the 
main jail for breakfast; at nine A. M. work was 
again started. 

One morning as the last gang of convicts had 

254 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 255 

reached the round-house, and before being locked 
up they attacked the warders and seizing the keys, 
unlocked a number of the other work-sheds, and 
the gate leading to the adjoining work-yard. 

After having killed, wounded and routed every 
prison official, they proceeded to the adjoining 
work-yard where they were reinforced by the con- 
victs employed there and the bad characters on 
the treadmill, at least one thousand men more, 
making between two and three thousand mutineers 

in all. 

At the time the alarm was sounded the chief 
jailer, Mr. Harrison, and I were in the jail office, 
over which the jail guard of about two hundred 
men is located. Hastily telling Harrison to wait 
and take charge of the guard and to surround the 
jail walls, I ran in to the round-house to take 
charge of the staff there. 

The round-house was situated about two hun- 
dred yards from the jail office. It was an easy 
matter to cover the distance when once I had pass- 
ed through the two main gates, but on reaching 
the outer gate of the work-yard, the turnkey of 
which was on the inside of the wall, I had some 
difficulty in getting the gate opened. Again, on 
reaching the gate of the round-house work-yard, 
which was also locked on the inside, it was not until 
a convict warder, who had not joined in the out- 
break, found the bunch of keys left by the muti- 
neers to unlock the gate, that I could gain admis- 
sion. On entering this gate I stumbled over the 
body of a warder who had been struck down while 
attempting to escape. A few yards from his body 



256 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

was the body of another man. The convict warder 
who had unlocked the gate for me, told me that the 
convicts had all gone to the treadmill and carpen- 
ter shop. The big gates were standing wide open, 
and I at once ran to the treadmill side. I found the 
large gates of the carpenter shop thrown wide 
open. Pandemonium reigned supreme through 
the four large sheds, constructed in the form of a 
square without partitions and in the courtyard in 
which the saw-yard was located. 

There were upwards of two thousand convicts 
armed with legs of tables, chairs, bedsteads, bars 
of iron, adzes, axes and other weapons secured 
from the carpenter and blacksmith shops. 

There was nothing between them and freedom 
but an open square and the jail wall which could 
be easily scaled with or without the aid of carpen- 
ters ' benches, planks, and other articles which 
were plentiful in the workshops. Had the rush 
been made, a great number of them would un- 
doubtedly have made good their escape before the 
military could have been got on the ground to 
support the jail guard. Instead of finding my 
assistant jailers and European warders and In- 
dian staff as I had expected, there was not a free 
man to be seen. The only European warder left 
in the work-yard, whom I later discovered, was 
"Warder Doyle, who, having been injured in the 
leg, had taken refuge under the large platform 
on which the tailors worked, in the round-house 
tower building. 

As I entered the gate of the carpenter shop, un- 
armed and having not so much as a hat to protect 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 25*7 

my head from the axes, sledge-hammers, table 
legs, etc., the ring leaders were calling loudly for 
the dash for liberty. It was an impressive sight 
to see this mob of excited convicts brandishing 
their promiscuous array of weapons in the air 
and every one yelling, like so many demons. 

There was no time for thought. A moment's 
hesitation would have been fatal to John De 
Guelph. Standing inside of the centre of the gate- 
way where I commanded full view of two sides 
of the square, I raised my right hand and in a 
word of command, cultivated in the army, I called 
for— "Silence!" 

My sudden appearance on the scene took them 
by complete surprise, and the roar of my voice 
produced a magic effect. Within a few seconds 
not a voice was heard but my own. Calling upon 
one of the mutinous convict warders I ordered him 
to "close and lock the gates," which he did. 

I roundly lectured the desperate convicts for 
their fool-hardiness and by way of emphasizing 
my remarks pointed to the locked gates and told 
them how impossible it was for them to escape. I 
then seated myself at the desk of the assistant 
jailer, who had disappeared from his post, and, 
calling for all the convict warders ordered them to 
get the men of their respective gangs together, 
and to march them back to their work. 

Order had thus been restored, I had segregated 
the ringleaders of the outbreak, and had formed 
a large part of the mob into gangs, when the su- 
perintendent of the jail, Dr. Davis, and the chief 
jailer, Mr. Harrison, with a part of the jail guard 



258 Memoirs of Prince John De Gwelph 

arrived on the scene, by way of the female part 
of the jail. 

The superintendent was so much affected by 
the shock that he had to drop into a chair; as he 
did so he placed his revolvers on the desk at which 
I was seated. Taking up the revolvers I threw 
out the cartridges before the astonished convicts, 
to show them that I needed no weapons to control 
them. 

A number of the ringleaders were subsequent- 
ly sent up for trial, some were hanged for murder 
and others received additional sentences. A large 
number of those implicated in the outbreak were 
put to stone breaking in the round-house for 
punishment. 

Superintendent and Leading Officials of Jail 

Caught Like Rats in a Trap — Their 

Massacre Opportunely Averted. 

The day following the jail-break a council was 
held in the office of the round-house for the pur- 
pose of considering ways and means to better pre- 
vent jail-breaks. 

The superintendent, chief jailer, myself, two 
assistant jailers, and four or five European ward- 
ers were present at the conference. The superin- 
tendent was seated at the head of the table, and 
the other officials were mostly standing around the 
table. I was standing with my hand upon the back 
of the superintendent's chair with my back to 
the open door of the round-house tower building. 






'Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 259 

My hat was on a shelf on the opposite side of the 
large table, and I was, as usual, unarmed. 

We had been discussing the situation about fif- 
teen minutes, when a tremendous shout rang out 
from the stone shed in which many of the muti- 
neers of the previous day were undergoing their 
punishment. The door of the stone shed is im- 
mediately facing the door of the tower-house and 
only six paces distant. The stone shed was a 
skeleton frame, as most of the work-sheds were. 
The door was supported by two hinges, which 
were old and none too secure. 

A good blow with a sledge hammer from the 
inside would be sufficient to break them down. 
The door was secured by a bolt and padlock. 

The shout— "Toung— Hta e'! Toung Hta e'! 
(break jail, " " Thatt lik ! Thatt lik ! (pronounced 
thot, i. e. kill, kill) brought us to our feet. 

Instantly the yell was taken up and about three 
hundred sledge hammers and huge granite stones 
were pounding against the door and the scantlings 
of the shed. 

Turning on my heel I stepped over to the stone- 
shed. The hinges were already loosened. Seizing 
the turnkey, who had started to run away, I pulled 
him back and ordered him to unlock the gate. He 
being too excited and frightened, I seized the keys 
and removed the padlock, which I handed to the 
turnkey with the orders to close and lock the gate 
the moment I was inside. Shooting back the bolt, 
I threw open the door and, stepping inside, press- 
ed back the leading convicts whose sledge ham- 
mers were raised over my head. The gate was 



260 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

closed and locked behind me. Raising my voice 
so that it could be heard above the yelling and din 
of three hundred hammers, I ordered the convicts 
to "fall in, in the centre walk." 

Order was instantly restored and the would-be 
assassins were once more conquered. After hav- 
ing put them through a little drill, I marched them 
to their respective stone boxes where work was 
resumed. I then walked up and down between the 
rows of stone boxes. Work had been resumed 
about ten minutes when the guard, having arrived, 
the superintendent and chief jailer came into the 
stone breaking shed under strong escort. As I 
saw them enter, I gave the order to their guard, — 
"Right about, turn!" and sent them out of the 
sheds. The superintendent remonstrated with me 
for what he was pleased to term my fool-hardi- 
ness" in rushing headlong into such danger, un- 
armed. 

Placing my hand on the gate of the shed I raised 
the gate up and down, saying as I did so, "The 
lives of our whole party depended upon my ac- 
tion. Two seconds more and we would have been 
in the clutches of this murderous mob." 

On returning to the office from the first out- 
break, the ludicrousness of the part just played 
by me in this jail tragedy presented itself. 

I had rushed to the support of my brave men 
only to find that such of them who had not been 
killed or wounded, had made their escape, thereby 
leaving me to face the situation alone. I could 
not refrain from indulging in the following im- 
promptu lines for which I hope to be excused. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 261 
THE JAIL-BREAK. 

As the prisoners were returning 

From breakfast to their work, 
The alarm was loudly ringing, 

'Twas heard beyond the kirk. 

A row! A row! What is it now? 

A-chin-tha-toung hta dai 

(A jail outbreak of convicts) 
Take up your staff, contract your brow 

And level pair by pair. 

I saw they'd killed a Gemadar, 

And smashed another's head, 
While poor old Doyle is hidden far 

Inside the tailor's shed. 

I missed poor Murphy from the fun, 

And feared for him the more, 
But soon I learned that he had run 
Slap bang right through the door. 

The gallant Jersey buck has gone, 

The boast of all the jail ; 
Was ever such a coward born, 

Or cur so soon turn tail? 

The row! The row! Where is it now? 

"They've gone the treadmill side," 
Where, when I reached I made a vow 

To stem that convict tide. 

Athirst for blood and freedom, 

Two thousand men or more, 
Like Milton's Pandemonium, 

I conquer 'd by a roar. 



CHAPTER XXVni 

TRANSFERRED TO BASSEIN — IN THE POWER OF ASSAS- 
SINS 1 ESTABLISH SCHOOLS 1 VISIT THE 

MALAY PENINSULA 

In 1889, the former deputy jailer, having been 
reinstated, I was transferred to Bassein as deputy- 
jailer. 

My advent in Bassein was anything but pleasing 
to the jailer, Mr. Bell, who had previously run 
foul of some of my reform measures in the Ran- 
goon Central, and who was one of the officials I 
had superseded. This gentleman's freedom of 
action, like his perquisites, was somewhat cur- 
tailed during my incumbency. 

Both in the Rangoon and Bassein Central jails 
the convicts manifested a great deal of respect 
to me for my policy, as is shown in the fact that 
almost every prisoner discharged from the jail 
would wait sometimes all day for the opportunity 
to thank me for the humane reforms I had intro- 
duced and to wish me good-bye. 

With the exception of one occasion I never ex- 
perienced any danger from going about the jails 
unarmed and even without a stick, notwithstand- 
ing that I had been warned a thousand times that 

262 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 263 

I took my life in my hands every time I entered 
the jail without a weapon of defense. 

In the central tower of the main jail at Bassein 
about two hundred lifers were kept at work on the 
second floor weaving dunnage mats. These men 
were too dangerous to be sent to the work-yards. 
The central tower was in view of the prison guard 
stationed over the jail offices about a hundred 
yards away. 

The circular floor on which the lifers worked 
was divided in two halves ; there being four doors, 
two at one side and two on the other, thus leaving 
two small passage ways at the divisions of the 
half-circles. 

It was my general custom to visit the central 
tower about 9.30 A. M. 

No tools whatever were necessary in their work. 
The bamboo shavings, about two feet in length, 
was the only thing used by them with which to 
weave their mats. The only danger to be antici- 
pated, therefore, was by common assault by the 
convicts in either one or the other half-circles. 

One morning about seven o'clock I had an im- 
pression that something was wrong in the central 
tower. I scented trouble in the air, and proceeded 
to investigate. Accompanied by my convict order- 
ly I went upstairs. On reaching the passage way 
between the two doors, I discovered that there was 
good reason for my impression. As the convicts 
looked up and saw me, a low spontaneous murmur 
broke out, for which I severely reproved them. I 
knew there was trouble in one or the other side 



264* Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

of the circle. I also knew that violence was con- 
templated against my own person. 

In describing this room I omitted to state that 
a circular hollow tower, about thirty feet in diame- 
ter went up through the center from the ground 
to the top of the building, which made two com- 
plete rooms of the outer part of the circle around 
the tower. There were two rows or semi-circles, 
of convicts ; one lot sitting with their backs to the 
central tower, and the other lot facing them with 
their backs to the outer wall. 

Ordering the turnkey to unlock the gate on my 
right, I proceeded with my inspection of the right 
half, the circular construction of which prevented 
my seeing more than a portion of it at once. 
There was some murmuring in front of me, and 
excited talk among the convicts on the left half of 
the building. I critically inspected the work of 
every man and spent an unusually long time on my 
rounds. At length I reached the first gate of the 
division of rooms. The fight was evidently in 
front of me. The turnkey, standing between the 
two gates, said, "You had better return the way 
you came or turn in an alarm, there is trouble in 
there. " 

Ignoring his warning I ordered him to unlock 
the door in front of me; I was determined to go 
through it. As I entered the second room a fur- 
ther mutinous murmur greeted me. Standing be- 
tween the two rows of convicts I roundly berated 
them for their mutinous conduct. 

I passed around more slowly than I had done in 
the first room and booked more men for punish- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 265 

inent. I had finally got to the middle of this part 
of the circle and could now see to the end of the 
room. The intended attack upon me must come 
soon, and I was looking for it. My only safety lay 
in giving them plenty of time — time alone would 
enable me to locate the ringleader, the villain to 
lead the murderous assault. 

I had started on the last quarter of the circle. 
Was the danger ahead of me or in my rear? It 
was certainly very close, and it was greater by 
reason of the fact that the construction of the 
room made it impossible for me to see all the con- 
victs and that I had not the room for action that 
the straight sheds afforded. 

I gained a point at which only ten men were in 
front of me on my right, and eight on my left. I 
took one more step, when I was rewarded for the 
"waiting game" I had played. The second con- 
vict from me on my right shuffled forward, under 
the pretext of doing something to the front part of 
the mat which he had nearly completed. This 
brought him three feet from his original position 
and close up to the pathway by which I must pass 
him. 

The object of his move was apparent — to throw 
himself upon me as I passed, to seize me by the 
legs and throw me backwards would be the work 
of a second. The rest would be easy. It subse- 
quently transpired that I was right in my hasty 
conclusion. The convict had been selected to start 
the attack in this manner on account of his weight 
and strength and for the further reason that he 
was a past-master in the art of murder. He 



266 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 

weighed two hundred and seventy-eight pounds 
and was one of the most dangerous convicts in the 
country. Seeing his movement, I knew that I was 
then standing in the middle of would-be assassins. 

In front of me, behind me, and on either side of 
me, desperate convicts were squatting, and only 
awaited the signal to set about their ghastly work 
of converting my head into mince-meat. 

The time for action had arrived and a second's 
delay would have meant immediate death to me. 
I thoroughly understood the character and fiend- 
ish purpose of my foes. I had seen British offi- 
cers mutilated and their heads and quarters sus- 
pended from different trees, and only a short time 
previously the jailer of the Akyab jail had been 
assassinated and his head chopped up with chisels. 

Stepping forward to within one pace of the con- 
vict awaiting me, and fixing my eyes upon him, 
while, with the index finger of my right hand I 
pointed to his place by the wall, I said severely, 
"Back!" Absolute silence prevailed throughout 
the building. The tension of the few seconds that 
followed was very great. Quietly I stood, my eyes 
riveted on those of my giant foe, and my fore- 
finger still pointing to the spot to which I had com- 
manded him to move. 

At last! His eyes fell before my gaze. He 
moved back to the wall. But still I remained. The 
task of subduing this monster of iniquity and his 
companions in crime must be thoroughly accom- 
plished once for all. For fully five minutes I stood 
there and denounced him and his companions in 
the most scathing terms. Finally I passed on, and 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 267 

on reaching the door I again turned and stood for 
a few minutes facing the assassins from whose 
power I had just escaped so providentially. 

I then ordered the turnkey to open the gate and 
went down stairs for the purpose of securing the 
assistance of some other officials to search the con- 
victs for the concealed weapons which I knew they 
possessed. 

As I stepped from the building a second-class 
convict warder came running from the direction 
of the work-yards. 

He was too exhausted to do more than fall at 
my feet, and put his arms about my legs and said, 
"Sir, sir — do not go!" He had seen me in the 
doorway of the central tower, and thought I was 
about to go up stairs on my inspection. For an 
hour this fellow had been running from one part 
of the jail to another to warn me of my danger. 

Telling him to rest himself until he could speak, 
I sat down to await his report. When rested, he 
said, "Sir, do not go up to the central tower. 
You are to be murdered this morning on your first 
visit. A number of chisels have been smuggled in 
to the convicts in the bundles of bamboo shavings. 
There are more than twenty lifers in the plot. 
The big fellow sitting under the window on the 
left hand side is to lead the murderous assault." 

Thanking him for his loyalty and faithfulness, 
I told him that I had just been round the central 
tower and knew that what he had told me was 
true, but that the murder had not come off. 

I then proceeded to make arrangements for the 
search. At this moment I saw Mr. Bell, the jailer, 



268 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

hurrying to the main jail from the office. When 
he reached me, I said, "You are just in time, Mr. 
Bell." 

1 ' Why, what is the matter ? ' ' said Bell. ' 1 Have 
you been attacked?" 

"Why should you think I had been attacked? 
Are violent assaults on prison officials of daily 
occurrence?" 

Mr. Bell was much confused, and stammered 
out, "I thought — perhaps — there had been an as- 
sault made on you." 

"Why should you have thought so, Mr. Bell? 
Everything is quiet here. I am about to make a 
search in the central tower and would like to have 
you accompany me." 

"For concealed weapons?" said Mr. Bell ex- 
citedly. 

"Why concealed weapons, Mr. Bell? Have you 
ever had occasion to search for concealed wea- 
pons? Tobacco, opium and money are the things 
for which search is generally made. However, 
please lead the way." 

With two sergeants and my convict orderly 
whom I armed with a baton, the party proceeded 
upstairs, Mr. Bell being in the lead. 

It is significant that the jailer did not so much 
as look to the room on the right but turned at 
once to the door on the left and looked directly 
at the convict who had been detailed to lead the 
attack upon me. 

On entering the room, I told the jailer to super- 
intend the search of the ward and I would attend 
personally to the convicts. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclplt 269 

My search of the convicts resulted in the dis- 
covery of charms sewn in their clothing. The 
charms were supposed to give them power over 
their enemy and to protect them from injury. 

Twelve convicts had twelve inch spike nails, 
ground up like chisels, in their possession. Eigh- 
teen men were implicated in the murder plot. The 
convicts were taken before the superintendent 
and sentenced to be flogged, each man received 
thirty lashes, was put in short fetters and cross 
bars, and bad character clothing, and placed in 
separate confinement. 

A fortnight later the superintendent, Dr. Dal- 
ziel was transferred and Mr. Bell at once recom- 
mended that the short fetters and cross bars be 
removed from my assailants, stating that the men 
had committed no offence. 

Not one of the convicts implicated in the mur- 
der plot had any personal grievance against me. 
On the other hand I had crippled the tobacco and 
opium trade carried on at a good profit by cer- 
tain officials. I had also caused a reduction of 
about fifty per cent, in the contractors' monthly 
bill for bamboos supplied to the jail. 

For two years the superintendent had been re- 
peatedly called upon to explain the cause of heavy 
expenditure for bamboos as compared with the 
number of dunnage mats made. 

He had made many tests to see how many mats 
could be obtained from a given number of bam- 
boo. The result of all tests was satisfactory, but 
the monthly output of mats fell fifty per cent, 
short of the tests. 



270 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

The explanation was simple. The tests were 
genuine, while there was a miscalculation in the 
number of bamboos used each month, by which 
the department was paying for about double the 
number actually received. 

On my return from leave of absence ten days 
prior to the attempt on my life, I was told that 
it had been said that I "would be carried out of 
the jail feet first within a fortnight" of my re- 
turn to duty. I resigned from the prison service 
shortly after the above incident. The jailer was 
dismissed from the service not long after and be- 
came a printer's devil at ten dollars per month. 

It was while I was in the Bassein jail that I es- 
tablished my first school for the benefit of the Bur- 
mese. 

The Bassein Day School was opened near the 
Baptist Mission. This school was established for 
the purpose of affording a secular education with- 
out prejudice to the religious faith of the pupils. 
Many Buddhist parents object to the religious in- 
struction given in mission schools, on the ground 
that their children readily acquire the habits of 
the nominal Christians, the prevailing weaknesses 
of intemperance, immorality and our vaunted 
"Christian Charity" — better defined as man's 
inhumanity to man. The beautiful character of 
the Buddhist child, the predominating feature of 
which is that of a Christ-like reverence and honor 
for their parents and elders undergoes a sad 
change. The parents are treated with a care- 
less indifference, and later with gross disrespect. 
The boy, whose Buddhist faith teaches abstinence 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 271 

from the aforesaid social evils, adopts the customs 
of the nominal Christian — the curse of missionary 
effort. 

When I assumed charge of the Cantonment divi- 
sion, Rangoon, as inspector of police, the retiring 
officer in making over the charge, said, "When 
cases of assault or theft are reported, you will do 

well to go through St. College. You will be 

surprised to learn how frequently you will find the 
offenders there." 

The rule of the Bassein day school was to give 
religious instruction to those children whose par- 
ents desired it, and instruction to the Buddhists 
in their own faith. The late Bishop Bigandet, 
Roman Catholic Bishop of Burma, used to say, 
"Teach a Burmese boy to be a true Buddhist and 
you will have an ideal Christian." 

The experiment of the Bassein Day School prov- 
ed most satisfactory, and I determined to extend 
my work in that direction. 

The Rev. Dr. Cronkite in charge of the Karen 
Mission there, which I attended, was favorably 
impressed with my school. 

I could not, of course, do more than pay casual 
visits to the school, but I had a good staff of teach- 
ers in charge. 

After leaving the prison service in 1891, I took 
a trip to the Malay Peninsula, where I spent about 
two months in looking over the mission field. 

The mission to seamen interested me very much, 
and I enjoyed the services conducted on board 
different vessels each Sabbath, in which it was my 
privilege to participate. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

A COMEDY OF ERRORS — I AM TAKEN FOR AN EX-CONVICT 
SHADOWED BY GENERAL MANAGER OF A DEPART- 
MENT STORE THE BISHOP *S " COOKING 

BRANDY" 

On my return to Burma I decided to look into 
the operations of the newly established Services 
Co-operative Stores. 

Pursuing my policy of practical investigation, 
I called on the general manager one morning to 
apply for a job. 

I was directed upstairs to the office and ushered 
into the presence of that official, who was fresh 
from England. 

"Have you had any experience in this line?" he 
inquired. 

"Yes, I had some experience in this line about 
eighteen years ago," I answered. 

"Eighteen years ago!" he said. "What have 
you been doing since?" 

"Oh, I have been 'Jack of all trades,' " I re- 
plied. 

"Where were you last?" he asked. 

"In jail," I said. 

"In jail! How long were you there?" he asked 
in astonishment. 

272 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 273 

" About five years," I replied. 

"Five years in jail ! I am sorry, but I have no 
vacancy. ' ' 

"I thank you," I said, "good morning, sir." 

Leaving the august presence of this simple- 
minded individual, I sauntered through the upper 
floor of the Service Co-operative Stores. I had 
no sooner closed the door on the manager's office 
than he quietly opened it again and peeped 
through the slight opening. When I had pro- 
ceeded only a few paces he followed. Being in the 
humor for a little fun, I spent some time in in- 
specting the wares of the various departments, 
paying particular attention to the jewelry depart- 
ment and others, where the most expensive goods 
were displayed. 

The general manager, like a faithful servant, 
paid close attention to his duty. He not only 
shadowed me himself but had an assistant accom- 
pany him. 

After having spent considerable time in the 
store and worked up the nerves of the manager, I 
met the assistant manager, Mr. Charles Pascal, 
whom I knew very well, and who was a member 
of my church. He had not seen me since my re- 
turn from Singapore, and emphasized his pleasure 
at our meeting by placing his arm around my 
shoulders and walking with me in this friendly 
way. I glanced around. to see what effect this ex- 
pression of affection on the part of the assistant 
manager would have upon his superior. 

I observed that gentleman clinging to a counter 
for support — so overcome was he to discover his 



274 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

trusted assistant in league with a supposed ex- 
convict. 

After having shown me around the various de- 
partments, upstairs and down, every minute of 
which was an hour's torture to the general man- 
ager, he escorted me to my carriage. 

I was subsequently informed that the moment 
I had driven away, the general manager stepped 
up to his assistant and asked, "Do you know that 
man?" 

"Yes, very well," replied the assistant. 

"How long have you known him?" 

"I have known him for many years." 

"Judging from your friendly greeting I pre- 
sume you have not seen him for some time?" 

"Quite so," replied the assistant, "he has been 
away. ' ' 

"For five years, I believe," suggested the man- 
ager, and then adding, "five years in jail. Do you 
know, sir, that you are making a bosom friend of 
an ex-convict? I have had the warmest half -hour 
of my life to see that chap safely off the prem- 
ises." 

If the general manager had been surprised by 
his mysterious applicant, he was more surprised 
when Pascal held his sides and roared with laugh- 
ter. 

Explanations followed, and a messenger was 
sent after me post-haste. On again meeting the 
general manager, I said, "Have you missed any- 
thing ? You may search me ; I have not taken it. ' ' 

The general manager inquired why I had not 
explained what I was doing in jail. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 275 

I told him that I had answered his questions. 
Had he wished to know what I was doing in con- 
nection with the prison service I would have been 
pleased to have enlightened him on that subject. 
I was informed that I could enter upon my duties 
as an assistant at any time. I was ready. I had 
been in the Service Co-operative Stores about 
three weeks when I was performing the duties of 
three men ; that of an assistant behind the counter, 
cashier and checker of all invoices. 

One of the most interesting members of the 
Service Co-operative Stores was His Lordship the 

Bishop of and his wife— "Lovey." 

Shortly after entering upon my duties I put up 
an order for the Lord Bishop. His Lordship had 
made it distinctly understood that under no cir- 
cumstances was the liberty of substitution to be 
practised upon him. I had not been informed of 
the Bishop's eccentricities, and not having his 
favorite cheese in stock, I substituted some good 
ripe gorgonzola for cheddar. The order was de- 
livered before my mistake was discovered. 

The manager informed me that he would leave 
me to "face the music" the following morning 
when His Lordship would be sure to come in and 
raise a storm. 

At eight o'clock the following morning the 
Bishop's carriage pulled up at the door and "Mr. 
Gaiters" nearly turned turtle in his hurry to get 
out of his carriage. 

Vaulting over the counter, I met him at the 
door. Seizing him by the hand I shook it most 
vigorously as I said, "Ah, my Lord, I am de- 



276 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

lighted to see you. I knew you would drop in to 
congratulate me on the quality of our last ship- 
ment of gorgonzola. I know your taste for good 
things, and so cut out the mild cheddar and sent 
you the choice of the whole store. No, don't com- 
pliment me, let me accompany you to the man- 
ager's office, he will be delighted with your Lord- 
ship's congratulations." 

Taking his Lordship by the arm we toddled off 
to the manager's office. 

The Bishop was profuse with his compliments 
for the good judgment I had shown, notwithstand- 
ing that he had called for the express purpose of 
kicking up a row. 

During Christmas week, 1891, the Bishop and 
"Lovey" came with their Christmas order. 

I was standing near them when a certain item 
on their list was reached. The Bishop, observing 
me, nudged his wife, saying as he did so, "Skip 
that, Lovey, skip that." 

"Why skip it?" said "Lovey," looking up inno- 
cently at her Lord Bishop. 

' ' Umph ! Don 't you see ? " as he glanced in my 
direction. "Wait, wait, put that in last." 

When they were nearing the completion of their 
order, I again took my position by the assistant 
waiting on the Bishop. At length the last item 
was given. 

Then commenced an amusing comedy. 

Glancing from me to his wife his lordship 
"hummed" and "hawed" in a variety of keys and 
inflections; he scratched his head as though in an 
effort to rake up his memory, searched his pockets 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 277 

and patted his epigastrium and forehead alter- 
nately. He put on his specs to look over the list, 
and examined the ceiling, bringing his handker- 
chief into play, he mopped his forehead and finally 
remarked, "I am sure we have forgotten some- 
thing. What is it, Lovey?" 

"I really can't think, Bishop, but I am sure we 
have missed something," his wife replied. 

Together they went carefully over the list and 
"Lovey's" pencil rested for a moment on the 
missing item, but still neither the Bishop nor his 
wife could bring themselves to mention it. 

After having enjoyed the Bishop's discomfort 
for some time, I volunteered to assist his memory. 
"I think I can help your Lordship," I suggested. 
' ' The item which you can not recall is, perhaps, an 
uncommon one at Bishop's Court, and it is not 
surprising that you do not recall it. I believe it is 
cooking brandy for the Christmas pudding." 

"Well done, you are a marvel!" exclaimed the 
Bishop. "That is the very thing." Then turn- 
ing to his wife, he continued, "Oh, Lovey, this is 
the gentleman who sent us that beautiful gorgon- 
zola." 

The assistant had produced three or four brands 
of brandy for inspection. 

"I am afraid my memory is at fault again," 
said the Bishop ; ' ' Christmas comes but once a year 
and I do not quite recall the brand we had last 
year. I am sure it was not of these. It had a 
very nice flavor and I would like to have the same 
brand again." 

The assistant had nearly exhausted our various 



278 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

brands of brandy without success. ' ' I would know 
it if I saw the bottle," explained the distressed 
Bishop. ' ' The name of the brand is on my tongue, 
but I can not quite say it. ' ' Turning to the assis- 
tant I spoke to him, soto voce, whereupon he pro- 
duced the familiar wire-netted bottle with the seal 
of Egshaws No. 1. 

''That's it, that's it," cried the delighted 
Bishop, like a school boy. The assistant waited 
patiently for the order for the "cooking brandy" 
for the Bishop's Christmas pudding. 

Again they were in a quandary. 

"How much did we have last Christmas?" in- 
quired my Lord Bishop. 

"I really forget, Bishop," replied "Lovey." 

"That is very awkward," said the Bishop. 

Again I came to the rescue. ' ' Shall we make it 
a dozen cases?" I suggested. 

"Upon my word, I believe that is just what we 
had last Christmas," exclaimed the Bishop. "Yes, 
send a dozen cases, it gives the pudding a delicious 
flavor." After which the delighted couple took 
their departure. 

Six months ' experience in the Service Co-opera- 
tive Stores gave me a good idea of the advantage 
of co-operative service organizations to supply 
food stuffs, wearing apparel and other articles 
and wares of domestic utility, at much lower cost 
than obtains in other establishments. 



CHAPTER XXX 

A PASSAGE OF ARMS WITH THE REBELS 1 RUN KISK OF 

BEING CONVERTED INTO PEMICAN 

I omitted to mention an interesting experience 
shortly after I had resigned my command in the 
military police, early in 1887. 

Having joined the Public Works Department, 
I was placed in charge of the executive engineer 's 
office at Toungdwingyi ; (within the mountains), 
situated about fifteen miles east of Minbu in Up- 
per Burma. 

Peace had been declared for some time, but the 
natives of this locality had not yet submitted to 
British rule. A few days prior to my arrival at 
Minbu the deputy commissioner of the district, 
Colonel Phayre, was brutally murdered on the 
road over which I had to travel. 

His party had been surprised by the rebels. 
His remains were later found by a search party. 
He had been decapitated and quartered, his head 
and quarters being found suspended from the 
branches of different trees — a grewsome spectacle 
which filled every European, military and civil, 
with horror. 

I left Minbu with a convoy under strong mili- 
tary escort for Toungdwingyi. When about two 

279 



280 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

miles out from Minbu I told the officer command- 
ing that I was going ahead. 

He remonstrated with me for my foolhardiness 
and asked me if poor Phayre's fate was not suffi- 
cient to deter me from my recklessness. The con- 
voy was expecting an attack, and, as I cantered 
ahead the officer commanding the convoy called 
out, "Good-bye." 

I knew my position; I also knew the strength 
of the rebels and my relation to them, therefore I 
had no fear. 

I had proceeded about five miles ; had long lost 
the creaking of the bullock carts and was enjoying 
the stillness of nature in the jungles, disturbed 
only by an occasional snake, deer or bear, when 
I suddenly came upon two men carrying baskets 
of betel-nut leaves. 

A few words in conversation convinced me that 
they were rebel scouts. I passed on and shortly 
afterwards came upon a party of about fifty armed 
men. 

As they brought their arms to the " ready," I 
bandied them in Burmese, saying — "This is very 
foolish. I am not a tiger. What do you wish to 
shoot?" 

I was smiling and looking at the leader. I have 
stated elsewhere that the bump of humor is large- 
ly developed in the Burmese. I repeat it that per- 
chance some who read these remarks may profit 
thereby. 

The leader remarked, "This is a very witty fel- 
low," then turning to me he asked, "Are you not 
afraid to die?" 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 281 

To this I replied, "You are Buddhists, are you 
not? How then, can you speak of death, when 
there is no death ; life being but an ephemeral con- 
dition, a transitionary stage in the evolution of 
our spiritual being. As we are on earth for spiri- 
tual development only, so our transition hence is 
by merit or demerit. If I have attained merit 
to justify my transition I am very happy ; but, if 
you have attained to demerit to cause my transi- 
tion, I am very sorry for you." 

To these remarks the leader said, "This Eng- 
lishman is a Buddhist and a great teacher. We 
must hear him. But he is our enemy, therefore 
would we kill him." 

Again addressing the leader, I said, "Will you 
please define the expression, — 'enemy?' " Con- 
tinuing, I said, "An enemy is an armed man or 
body of men who destroy their fellow man. As you 
observe, I have neither gun, sword, nor spear. I 
am, therefore, a man of peace. You, on the other 
hand, are armed with guns, swords and spears. 
Hence you are the enemies of the man of peace. 

"You think you are justified in killing an Eng- 
lishman simply because you take the position that 
England made war upon your country. Do you 
think that I represent the whole British army and 
navy combined that you would raise fifty guns 
to kill me? You asked me why I smile while fac- 
ing your guns. I did so for the reason that I was 
both happy and amused. Happy at the mere pros- 
pect of the future life ; and amused to see so many 
men trying to shoot one man. My life is perfectly 
safe before so many guns. If any one of your 



282 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

men could shoot straight enough to kill me, it 
would not be necessary for fifty to try." 

The above sally caused a hearty laugh among 
the whole party, after which I was invited to join 
them in their repast which had been disturbed by 
my approach. 

I took the opportunity to impress upon my 
hosts the absurdity of so many unskilled marks- 
men attempting to attack a properly disciplined 
army of "professional men-killers." It took fifty 
of them to try to kill a man of peace ; whereas, one 
professional man-killer could easily kill one hun- 
dred or more of them. I told them that peace had 
long been declared and advised them to return to 
their homes and families, with the assurance that 
the British Government would make their lives 
very much brighter and the country better than 
in the past. 

The party thanked me for my advice and dis- 
persed to their homes. 

I reached my destination in safety. I was taken 
ill shortly after my arrival at Toungdwingyi and 
resigning my position I returned to Rangoon 
within a few weeks. 

About the fall of 1891, I engaged in lecturing 
on and teaching the Burmese language. I had 
classes in the Burma Volunteers, taught officers 
and men in the regiments, missionaries, civil ser- 
vants, and the various classes in the Methodist 
school. 

My phonetic system in teaching this difficult 
language was highly commended by the highest 
authorities; Bishop Bigandet, the greatest author- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 283 

ity on the language, said that the only thing that 
surprised him was "that the system had not been 
adopted fifty years ago." 

I was not allowed to remain long as a professor 
of Oriental languages. The director of public in- 
struction, Mr. J. Van Someran Pope, wished me 
to undertake the responsibility of establishing 
an Anglo-vernacular school in Upper Burma. 

I accordingly went to Myingyan (the country 
of the wild horse) and established a government 
school, early in 1892. 

Two or three weeks after my arrival there I 
was taken ill with cholera, and was alone in my 
quarters, without medical aid through a day and 
night until Father Berard, a Roman Catholic 
priest, whom I was instructing in Burmese, came 
to my assistance about 3.30 A. M., the day after 
my attack. 

He had been out all night attending to a sick 
person and came to me the moment he heard of my 
condition. The priest brought two bottles of com- 
munion wine thinking it might be useful in the 
absence of other remedies. He also brought me 
the only quilt or comforter and pillow which con- 
stituted his bed — an example of true missionary 
spirit and Christian charity that other mission- 
aries would do well to follow. 

On my recovery I left for Mandalay, where I 
established the "Mandalay Myo Theikpan 
Choung-Daw-Gyi (The Mandalay Royal Town 
School of Science and Art)." This was a private 
enterprise. I employed only European teachers 
and followed my former policy of affording the 



284 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

children of the country the advantages of advanc- 
ed Western education without prejudice to the re- 
ligious faith of any. 

The school became very popular and met with 
the support of the leading representatives of all 
nationalities in Mandalay. 

In the month of February, 1893, the Rev. 
Thomas Ellis, superintendent of the St. Barnabas 
and St. Luke's Mission Schools (Society for the 
Propagation of the Gospel), urged upon me to go 
to Rangoon to take charge of the St. Barnabas 
Schools, which for twelve years had stood at the 
bottom of the list of all schools in the country at 
each successive examination. The government 
had decided to withdraw the government grant 
from the schools. A formal examination was to 
be held in two weeks' time for the purpose of con- 
demning the school. 

Making over charge of my school to another 
party, I proceeded to Rangoon and took charge 
of St. Barnabas School. 

The day for the formal examination arrived 
and a new inspector fresh from Cambridge was 
given the unpleasant task of condemning a mis- 
sion school as his first duty. The result of the ex- 
amination was a surprise to him and a still greater 
surprise to the director of public instruction, the 
whole school gaining a hundred per cent, in all 
subjects and excellent in discipline. 

Needless to say the school was not condemned. 
At the following annual examination, held three 
months later, St. Barnabas School jumped from 




The Prince John as a Missionary 



Memoirs of Prince John De GuelpJb 285 

the bottom of the list to the first place of all 
schools in the country in merit and discipline. 

I devoted a great deal of my time to attending 
to the sick, treating cases of leprosy and other 
diseases of remote origin. My success led to my 
being designated by the natives ' ' The Great Royal 
Physician of the East." I also devoted consider- 
able time to teaching and lecturing when not en- 
gaged in mission duties. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

I AM TAKEN DANGEROUSLY ILL BEING URGED UPON 

BY MY SPIRITUAL ADVISER, I SEND A MESSAGE OF 

MY FORGIVENESS TO MY GRANDMOTHER THE 

QUEEN AND MY FATHER AND THEREBY 

REVEAL MY IDENTITY 

The strenuous mental and physical labor of the 
past year following upon the attack of cholera 
from the effect of which I had never fully recov- 
ered, had been depleting my vitality and I finally 
collapsed from heart-failure. 

This attack commenced about the month of No- 
vember, 1893, but I persistently refused to follow 
the advice of my physicians, Dr. Baker, the civil 
surgeon, and Dr. A. H. Ellis, a member of the 
S. P. G. Mission, with which I was connected, who 
urged me repeatedly to return to England. I 
insisted upon attending to my duties until the 
Easter vacation. I had also arranged with Mr. 
Moodray Pillay, a noted Hindu philanthropist, 
to establish a hospital in Rangoon for the treat- 
ment of the sick poor, for which purpose that gen- 
tleman had placed at my disposal one of his large 
school buildings. It may be stated here that Mr. 
Moodray Pillay had established large schools in 
Rangoon on the lines introduced by me, where 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 287 

Hindu children could receive thorough western 
education without prejudice to their religious 
faith. 

The projected hospital, I regret to say, fell 
through at the very time our arrangements for 
opening it were completed. 

On returning to my residence one Saturday 
evening, following a very heavy day's work, I 
was seized with an attack of heart-failure from 
which I remained unconscious for several hours, 
Dr. Ellis, who was summoned immediately after 
I was stricken, doing everything possible to re- 
store me. These attacks recurred at intervals for 
two months. 

On the occasion of the second attack, which 
came a few days after the first, Dr. Ellis, fearing 
that I was at the point of death, called the Eev. 
Thomas Ellis, superintendent of our mission. 

Taking advantage of a slight rally, my spiritual 
adviser begged of me to send a "last message" to 
my "people at home." Neither of my fellow 
laborers in the Lord's vineyard knew of my iden- 
tity. They did know, however, that there was 
some great secret sorrow in my heart, which they 
had hitherto respected with brotherly silence and 
sympathy. 

I at first declined to make any statement, but 
as I saw that my silence pained my friends, I con- 
sented to make what I firmly believed at that time 
to be my death-bed statement before God and His 
ministers. The statement was made to my spiri- 
tual adviser as a sacred trust. 

Rev. Thomas Ellis thoughtfully suggested that 



288 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the Kev. A. H. Ellis should retire to another 
room, but I explained that it was important that 
he should be present. First, for the reason that 
he was a member of the mission and therefore an 
important witness to what I was about to say ; and, 
secondly, for the reason that as my physician it 
was still more important that he should be in a 
position to state whether or not my mind was clear 
and rational at the time of making the statement. 
I then explained to them my identity and the par- 
ticulars of my birth; and also the names and 
addresses of the different nurses and people with 
whom I had lived, giving the dates and years dur- 
ing which I had lived at the different places ; I also 
showed to them marks of identification upon my 
body and the depression in my skull caused by the 
fall over the railway wall when an infant. 

I also sent to my grandmother, the late Queen 
Victoria, and to my father, then Prince of Wales, 
a message of my forgiveness for the cruel man- 
ner in which I had been robbed of my legitimate 
birthright, as his first born son torn from my 
mother's breast. 

I again relapsed into unconsciousness; prayers 
were offered and, finally, as Dr. Ellis pronounced 
life extinct, he uttered the words, "Into Thy 
hands, God, we commend his spirit, Amen." 

Thus it was thought that I had departed from 
this life. The two clergymen had adjourned to 
another room, to discuss the arrangements for my 
funeral the following day, Sunday. 

They remained for some time conversing in 
an undertone. Here I must relate a manifestation 




H. M. KING EDWARD VII 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 289 

of a psychological phenomenon which may be of 
interest to psychologists and to the medical pro- 
fession. 

While my body was lying cold, in apparent 
death, I was conscious of being present in the 
room where my fellow missionary workers were 
seated and planning for the services on the mor- 
row and for my funeral to take place in the after- 
noon. I understood the conversation as distinctly 
as I could have done had I been present in the 
body. I was also conscious of passing through 
other experiences, the particulars of which I will 
not relate at this time. 

I recovered consciousness about eight hours 
later, and my appearance on the stage of life on 
Sunday morning gave my friends quite a shock. 

I wrote to my father immediately after my re- 
covery, and explained that I was about to return 
to England on sick furlough. 

It was at this time that my father communicated 
with the Lieutenant Governor of Burma, admit- 
ting our relationship and suggesting that I should 
go to Australia or New Zealand for my health. 

This communication, while of a confidential na- 
ture, had to be made known to the Lord Bishop of 
my diocese, the director of public instruction and 
other officials, with the result that within a week 
it was an open secret. 

Being unable to live longer in seclusion, I as- 
sumed the family name of Guelph, which my 
grandmother resented. 

Captain J. Eegan, superintendent of the Gov- 
ernment Printing Department in Burma, dropped 



290 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

in on me at Evershed's Hotel one evening. After 
a few casual remarks he suggested that I should 
discontinue to use the family name of the Keign- 
ing House; he also explained to me that if I would 
discontinue the name of Guelph, a title commen- 
surate with my birth would be conferred upon me 
and an office suited to my station would be pro- 
vided for me in the colonies. 

I explained to him that for over twelve years the 
doctors had repeatedly urged me to return to Eng- 
land, saying that I could not live in the climate of 
India; that I had as persistently refused to leave 
India where I had enjoyed my life of seclusion, 
preferring rather to die in seclusion than to return ' 
to England where the bitterness of my position 
was ever present with me and made life a misery. 
The injustice and indignities heaped upon me and 
my mother from the time of my birth were simply 
intolerable and words failed me to adequately ex- 
press the contempt in which I had held my grand- 
mother, my father and the nation at large for the 
parts they had played in the infamous and bar- 
barous crime committed against me and my 
mother. Now that my identity had been made 
known through my father's communication to the 
authorities, and my desire to live incognito was 
no longer possible, the assumption of my family 
name was the only course left open to me. I fur- 
ther explained to Captain Regan that I possessed 
certain royal titles by right of birth, and that as 
my name was not Esau I was not disposed to bar- 
ter my birthright for a "mess of pottage." He 
would please convey my compliments to Her 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 291 

Majesty the Queen-Empress, my grandmother, 
and tell her that it was my intention to be known 
thereafter by the family name as the legitimate 
issue thereof. And, further, that I purposed to 
return to England as advised by my physician. 
I added, however, that out of respect for her feel- 
ings, I would, during her lifetime, continue the 
incognito hitherto observed, and would be known 
by the family name hyphenated with the name by 
which I had always been known, i. e., John R. 
Guelph-Norman ; but, that the day my father 
should be crowned King of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, I would thereafter be known only by the fam- 
ily name of Guelph or by my rightful titles. 

The Lord Bishop of my diocese complimented 
me on the stand I had taken, and, stating that I 
had "the lash in my hand," urged me "to go home 
and use it." 



CHAPTER XXXII 

i am; recommended for chair of Burmese, cam- 
bridge UNIVERSITY 1 SAIL FOR ENGLAND BUF- 

FETTED BY SOUTHWEST MONSOONS, WE REACH 
ENGLAND MUCH BATTERED AND CRIPPLED 

I took passage by the tramp steamer S. S. Afri- 
cander, Captain C H , as jolly a skip- 
per as ever sailed the seas, for two reasons: I 
was going on sick furlough without pay, with an 
empty pocket and no bank account ; had my salary 
in the mission been ten times greater than it was 
I would have been in the same impoverished con- 
dition, since a missionary agent can always find 
good use for surplus money. The cheap passage 
by the tramp was, therefore, a consideration to 
me. In the second place, being the only passen- 
ger I would have the advantage of quiet and rest, 
not easily obtained on the regular liners; more- 
over, the Africander being a slower boat I would 
have the advantage of the longer voyage which 
would benefit my health. 

I had not, however, bargained for the exciting 
experience I was entering upon. The excitement 
commenced before we put to sea, by the chief of- 
ficer shooting me in the right foot at two-foot 
range with his air gun. Congratulating myself 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 293 

that he had chosen my foot instead of my head 
as a target for his tomfoolery, I dismissed the 
matter from my mind. All went well until we 
reached Columbo, where we coaled. The ship was 
overloaded on leaving Rangoon, and on steaming 
from Columbo about midnight we were a foot be- 
low the water line. Captain H had been 

for many years on the South African Mail Ser- 
vice, but was unfamiliar with the far Eastern 
trade routes. 

His unfamiliarity with the monsoons led him to 
take the regular course of mail steamers in good 
weather instead of following the course as marked 
on the chart for the monsoon season. 

The course followed by the captain was where 
the greatest force of the monsoons was concen- 
trated and the most confused seas were encoun- 
tered. 

The three forward hatchways were stove in 
and tons of water soaked the cargo of rice, the 
life boats smashed into matchwood and the davits 
snapped up like so many slate pencils, the bul- 
warks and deck torn up, and the after-saloon 
damaged and flooded. 

When off the island of Socotra about 5.30 P. M. 
a sea was shipped which gave the Africander a 
spasm. The chief engineer on calculating the 
force required to do the damage done by that sea 
found it to be 21,000 tons. 

The chief officer was on the bridge. The helm 
was put hard a 'port and all hands called on deck 
to clear away the wreckage and once more to cover 
the hatchways. By an error of judgment the Cap- 



294 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tain, on reaching the bridge again, turned her 
head to the sea, with the result that another sea 
was shipped, endangering the lives of the whole 
crew and came near sending the boat to the bot- 
tom. 

The following morning about nine o'clock we 
were abeam the Island of Socotra, having made a 
"record" run of eight knots in sixteen hours 
steaming at full speed. It was with feelings of re- 
lief that we passed this point where two liners had 
been wrecked about a week previous. In sixteen 
days we had made a run from Columbo which, 
under ordinary circumstances, should have been 
made in six days. We arrived safely at Suez, 
called at Port Said, Alexandria, Beirut, Jaffa, 
Tripoli and other ports. 

Captain H , who was considerably alarm- 
ed for the safety of the vessel and for his own 
skin during the worst part of the voyage, sought 
my companionship a good deal of the thne and we 
spent many hours together. The afternoon be- 
fore reaching Socotra, I wished to take a nap, and, 
calling the steward, told him that if the captain 
should call for me, he was to say that ' ' I had gone 
ashore." 

A little later I heard the captain calling for the 
steward. He ordered the steward to convey his 
compliments to me and to say that he would like 
to see me. I heard the steward carry out my in- 
structions by saying, "he's gone ashore, sir." 

"Well," replied the captain, "when he comes 
aboard, tell him I would like to see him." 

"Aye, aye, sir," replied the steward. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 295 

A few moments later I heard the captain roar 
for the steward; when that dignitary responded, 
the captain shouted, ' ' Gone ashore, has he ! ! ! 
Gone ashore, you lubber, and we sixteen days at 
sea"?" 

Here followed a fusilade of sea-boots and other 
movable articles to the accompaniment of further 
picturesque sea language, after which the captain 
made his way to my cabin. 

We reached Alexandria on the anniversary of 
the bombardment of that port. 

An affray took place that evening between a lot 
of Egyptians and English sailors in port. 

I had gone ashore early in the afternoon and 
knew nothing of the trouble. About midnight 
when returning on board I was attacked by a 
dozen stalwart Egyptians, not far from the pier. 
Being unarmed, I "borrowed" a club from one 
of my assailants and gave them a lesson in the use 
of the weapon — and escaped without injury be- 
yond having my coat torn. I reported the matter 
to the police and returned to the steamer. 

On reaching Gravesend I said "good-bye" to 
the captain and officers and proceeded to London 
by train. 

I reported at the office of the Society for the 
Propagation of the Gospel on my arrival in Lon- 
don. 

It was necessary for me to find some occupation. 
I had expected to have been appointed to the chair 
of Burmese in the Cambridge University, for 
which I had been recommended before leaving 
Burma. As I had been more than two months on 



296 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the voyage, or more than a month longer than I 
had expected, the position had been filled before 
my arrival. A number of the missionary socie- 
ties in London said they would be glad of my serv- 
ices when they made their appointments in Novem- 
ber, but it was difficult to find congenial employ- 
ment during the summer months. 

The curacy of St. John's Church, Birmingham, 
was offered to me from the 1st September, 1894, 
but as the letter was mislaid in the office of the 
S. P. G., I knew nothing of the offer until the 
middle of September when it was, of course, too 
late. 

I had written to my grandmother, the late 
Queen Victoria, and also to my father two or three 
times during the voyage home, and had given them 
the name and address of my London agents in 
case they desired to communicate with me, but I 
gave my father to distinctly understand that not- 
withstanding that I was returning on sick fur- 
lough and physically unfit for work, I desired no 
financial assistance from him except my legiti- 
mate birthright. As I had been thrown upon my 
own resources from infancy, I would accept no 
compromise. 

Having looked in vain for employment among 
all the Home Missionary Societies and being re- 
duced to my last shilling, I took to the lecture 
platform; lecturing on the medical systems of 
India, Ayurveda and Yunani, giving at the same 
time demonstrations on the platform of the prac- 
tical application of physiological psychology to 
abnormal or pathological data of both physical 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 297 

and mental nature. I established consulting 
rooms in Liverpool and Manchester on the sug- 
gestion of my friend H. L. Squires, of Hope Street, 
Liverpool. 

My services were much in demand, both in the 
lecture field and in treating disease. The sick, 
the lame, and the blind were brought from differ- 
ent parts of the country and also from the con- 
tinent of Europe to me. The press notices of that 
time show that some people much appreciated my 
services. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

I RETURN TO BURMA — I ESPOUSE THE CAUSE OF THE 

PEOPLE MY GROWING POPULARITY A MENACE TO 

THOSE WHO HAD USURPED MY RIGHTS — FIF- 
TEEN YEARS OF POLITICAL INTRIGUE AND 
PERSECUTION FOLLOW 

At the end of April, 1895, I cancelled all my 
engagements and returned to India by the S. S. 
Ameer of the Brocklebank Line, sailing from 
Liverpool 7th May for Calcutta, from which port 
I took the British India line for Eangoon, where 
I arrived on the 15th June. 

My furlough did not expire until the 24th May 
the following year, but it was too painful for me 
to remain in my false position in England living 
among the people, while others enjoyed my right- 
ful patrimony. 

On my arrival in Burma I established an insti- 
tute for the treatment of diseases found intracta- 
ble by ordinary medical treatment, such as leprosy, 
diseases of the eye and ear and nervous system, 
the neurosis and psychosis of alcoholism and men- 
tal diseases generally. 

Wishing to continue my investigations, I re- 
signed from the Anglican Church Mission and 
went on a tour through India, treating the sick at 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 299 

the various centres en route. It was during this 
tour that I first met with political persecution, 
which was continued up to the time of the death 
of my father, in May, 1910. 

At the end of 1896, I returned to Burma and 
established the Maulmein Sanatorium. My clien- 
telle was principally among the poor Burmese and 
Hindoos. The number of people seeking relief 
was so great that my strength was taxed to the 
limit. 

One morning I decided to take a rest. Accom- 
panied by two attendants I took a row boat up 
the Salween river to the village of Kadoe. On 
reaching that place the bank of the river was lined 
with crowds of Burmese, many of whom, having 
learned that I was going there, had proceeded by 
the road. On leaving Kadoe on my return trip, 
shortly after the boat had pulled into the stream, 
I discovered a Burman concealed in the small com- 
partment at the stern of the boat. 

I directed him to come to me. He crawled out 
on hands and knees, and as he approached pros- 
trated himself before me begging for mercy — he 
was a leper. He pleaded with me to treat him for 
his horrible disease ; his appeal was not in vain. 

I established a special consulting room for the 
treatment of the sick poor under the care of the 
Hindu Charitable Association. 

In February, 1897, I established a Buddhist 
Girls' School in Thatone. This school I subse- 
quently made over to the Buddhist Association 
and from this, the Empress Victoria Diamond 
Jubilee Buddhist Boys' School and the Empress 



300 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpfi 

Victoria Diamond Jubilee Buddhist Girls' School 
were established by a prominent Buddhist, Mr. 
Houng, of Elgin House, Rangoon, who was then 
the assistant comptroller of Burma. 

The famine in India and Burma, the epidemic 
of bubonic plague in Bombay, then spreading to 
other districts, and the political unrest in Bengal, 
the North Western Provinces and the Punjab, and 
throughout Upper Burma, demanded conciliatory 
action on the part of the Government to avert a 
bloody revolution. College students and political 
agitators were lecturing and spreading sedition 
through the leading Burmese officials, magistrates 
and members of the Bar were meeting in secret 
council with private citizens to discuss ways and 
means "to throw off the oppressive and tyrannical 
yoke of a British rule," in which, as stated in a let- 
ter addressed by me to my father in 1902, I held 
them to be victims of our injustice and quite 
blameless. 

A brief outline of the effect of our short- 
sighted administration will suffice to justify my 
action in resigning from the Anglican Church 
Mission in Burma to espouse the cause of the peo- 
ple of Burma and India. 

At the close of the last Burma war, 1886-7, a 
royal proclamation was issued in the name of the 
Queen-Empress of India, calling upon the people 
to return to their homes and to their peaceful 
avocations ; being assured of the protection of Her 
Imperial Majesty's government — enjoyed by all 
loyal subjects throughout the Empire. Among 
other things, the Burmese people were assured in 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 301 

the name of the Queen-Empress that they would 
not only be permitted to enjoy their religious 
rights and privileges, whether Buddhist, Hindu, 
Mohammedan, Zoroastrian or Christian, but that 
their right to worship according to their religious 
faith would be protected and supported by the 
Government. 

At the time this royal proclamation was being 
posted throughout the country, practically the en- 
tire British and Indian army in Upper Burma was 
located in Buddhist monasteries from which Bud- 
dhist priests had been expelled — sometimes with- 
out an hour's notice. Buddhist temples were wan- 
tonly desecrated and their church properties con- 
fiscated. 

When appointed to the command of the head- 
quarters of the Burma military police referred 
to in a previous chapter, I was obliged to turn out 
the high priests and a large number of priests 
at a moment's notice from the King's monasteries 
to put my men in them an hour or so later. This 
occurred weeks after the royal proclamation had 
been issued. The above was only one of the hun- 
dreds of similar violations of the spirit and letter 
of the proclamation. The thousands of troops, and 
all the military police drafted by me to various 
stations throughout the country for months later 
were placed in Buddhist Monasteries in the same 
manner. 

The jewels, gold and sacred emblems stolen 
from the temples amounted to many lakhs of 
rupees and the rapacious and sacrilegious acts of 
desecration by so-called Christian officials were 



302 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

only equalled by the maladministration of a set 
of incompetent representatives of the most pow- 
erful ''Christian" government on earth. 

An inspection of the missionary schools and col- 
leges of Rangoon, and reference to the old regis- 
ters of students will do much to open the eyes of 
the Christian world. Some of these institutions 
have six hundred students. During the past forty 
years thousands of half-caste students have gradu- 
ated from St. John's College alone, many of them 
the illegitimate offispring of British officials. The 
late president, the Rev. John E. Marks, D.D., who 
had charge of St. John's for about thirty years 
prior to 1896, showed me that many of the greatest 
names in the United Kingdom were on his regis- 
ters — the sons of dukes, earls, generals and so 
forth, down to those of the plebeian Thomas 
Atkins. 

As a rule scions of some of the noble houses 
of England thus left with their Burmese mother 
were allowed about ten dollars per month, and 
on graduating from college were put into govern- 
ment positions by officials, who trusted to their 
successors to do the same for their children in the 
future, in conformity with an unwritten law among 
Christian governors of a Christian empire. The 
boys, like the girls, were required to be known 
by a Burmese name. 

The Burmese official who might have a good 
looking sister or daughter was slated for promo- 
tion on the presentation of the damsel to his 
superior "Christian" officer. But the Burmese 
official who would protect the honor of his sisters 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 303 

or daughters not infrequently made a vacancy for 
some more accommodating and aspiring official. 

There is probably no more moral and temperate 
people in the world than the Buddhists of Burma. 

Where a Burmese maiden is taken to "wife" by 
a British official, she is faithful to the official, 
which is more than can be said of the official. It is 
no wonder, therefore, that the intemperate and im- 
moral practices of nominal Christians greatly 
handicap missionary effort in Asia, for what ap- 
plies to Burma, applies also to India and other 
parts of Asia. 

When the official is transferred from Burma, 
he can not, of course, take his Burmese wife and 
children with him to Europe. 

Hence some provision as above outlined has 
to be made. 

I have stated in a previous chapter that famines 
in India have increased in frequency and severity 
since the British occupation ; and have shown that 
the famines are due to the combination of capital 
and influence which have rendered ineffective the 
best efforts of the Government to improve the 
economic conditions and to ameliorate the suf- 
ferings of the people. So long as dishonest and 
barbarous customs of robbery and oppression by 
Christian merchants continue in Asia, so long will 
missionary effort among the peoples of Asia con- 
tinue to be a failure. Moreover, the continuance 
of such robbery in the name of commerce, by the 
Christian world against the Asiatic races, must 
inevitably lead to the most terrible war in the his- 
tory of the world. 



304 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

The combined forces of the Asiatic alliance, with 
its nine hundred million population to draw from, 
will, within the next few years, enforce a change of 
policy, if not of government in the United States 
and Europe. 

When I resigned from the Anglican Church 
Missions in Burma, my bishop, the clergy and mis- 
sionaries generally were surprised. "When I iden- 
tified myself with the Buddhist Union, organ- 
ized by the assistant commissioners of Thatone, 
Maung Hpe, a nephew of Mr. Houng, above re- 
ferred to, their consternation knew no bounds. I 
was preached against in their churches under the 
text of "The Anti-Christ Now in Our Midst." 
Daily prayers were offered in the churches and 
schools for "strength to fight against him who 
has lent his aid to the heathen." That their 
1 ' arms might be strengthened to fight against him 
who is fighting against Thee, Lord." 

This insane opposition spread rapidly and the 
mania was contracted by the British official. And, 
when I caused the organization of a Buddhist 
Council of Temporalities to hold in trust all Bud- 
dhist temporal properties, the primary purpose of 
which was to sue the Government of India for the 
recovery of Buddhist Church properties confis- 
cated by the local authorities as above referred to, 
the dunderheads representing the Government of 
the Queen-Empress only saw in me a future Em- 
peror of India. I was, according to them, prepar- 
ing for a bloody revolution for no other purpose 
than that of self-aggrandisement. 

Having the "Burma head" (softening of the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 305 

brain), they could not see that I was the only loyal 
British subject living up to the spirit and letter 
of the royal proclamation, every provision of 
which they had grossly violated, holding the Brit- 
ish Government up to ridicule and bringing re- 
proach upon British honor and Christian senti- 
ment. 

It was their unjust and unlawful oppression of 
the people that was responsible for the political 
agitation at that time, and which has been respon- 
sible for the political crimes committed from time 
to time. In the Addenda will be found extracts 
from letters addressed by me to His Excellency 
the Viceroy and Governor-General in India and 
to my father, the late King Edward VII, on the 
above subject, dated from 1897 to 1910. 

My activity in the interests of my country and 
my people gained for me the good will and unani- 
mous support of all India and of Asia. 

My growing popularity, it was considered, 
would endanger the interests of those who now 
occupy my rightful position, as the head of the 
reigning dynasty of the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland. Hence, the political intrigue 
and infamous persecution which has followed me 
for fifteen years. 

Some time ago, when writing on this subject, I 
stated what I repeat here, viz., That when this 
political intrigue was set in motion against me, I 
said — ''Time and rope are the two things neces- 
sary for my political enemies to hang them- 
selves"; whereas, "time and opportunity were the 
only two things necessary for me to accomplish my 



306 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

purpose for the emancipation of my long suffering 
people of India and Ireland — and for the amelior- 
ation of the condition of the people throughout 
the United Kingdom." 

I have given my political enemies all the time 
they wanted, without so much as raising a dis- 
senting voice against the unjust persecution to 
which I have been subjected. I claim no special 
credit for my forbearance, as to have taken legal 
steps against the injustice done me and my 
mother during the lifetime of my father, would 
have precipitated a revolution in which the coun- 
try at large would have suffered. 

The untimely death of my revered father has 
precipitated my opportunity, and the prevailing- 
political unrest in the United Kingdom, and, more 
particularly in Ireland and India, the result of 
unhealthy economic conditions and the conse- 
quent distress and great sacrifice of life, makes 
it my imperative duty to enforce the introduc- 
tion of measures for economic reform in the in- 
terest of the people and for the peace of the Em- 
pire. 

Recognizing the vital importance of this duty 
to my country, owing to the far reaching effect 
the said reforms will have upon the empire, I 
now submit to the people of Great Britain, Ire- 
land and India, and to British subjects every- 
where, the following excerpt from my letter of 
10th January, 1910, to my father. 

My father and King having been taken from 
us, it is for the people of the British Empire to 
take the necessary action thereon. Justice to a 




QUEEN VICTORIA 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 307 

loyal and faithful servant of the people demands 
it; and justice to the people themselves demands 
it: 

"I am about to have published in form of a 
biographical sketch of my life some particulars 
of the results of my researches and my plans for 
industrial development and economic reform in 
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 
land and India. 



"As my efforts to introduce the said measures 
and to put the same in operation have been 
quietly, but systematically, opposed on political 
grounds, the public being thereby deprived of the 
benefits that would immediately accrue from the 
inauguration of said operations, I am of opinion 
that the matter should be referred to the people 
of the United Kingdom and of the Empire, that 
they may judge as to whether the peace and wel- 
fare of the nation should be permitted to suffer 
and the safety of the Empire be jeopardized 
through political intrigue against an individual, 
a loyal and faithful subject, who has given his life 
and sacrificed his happiness to serve his king and 
his people."* 

To fully appreciate the injustice done to the 
people by the suppression of my various reforms 
through political intrigue and persecution against 
me, reference should be made to the correspon- 
dence reproduced in the Addenda. 



'The copy of this letter will be found in the Addenda. 



308 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

It was my privilege to treat one of the first 
cases of bubonic plague in Bombay in 1896, the 
daughter of a Koja merchant. My patient recov- 
ered. 

See my letter of 4th February, 1897, to the Vice- 
roy of India; also excerpt from my letter of 12th 
December, 1902, to my father, and my letter of 
17th June, 1910, to my half-brother, George, King 
de facto, to learn where the responsibility rests 
for the bubonic plague epidemic in 1896 and the 
following decade, during which time over eight 
million lives were sacrificed. 

Eeference should also be made to the corres- 
pondence of 1906 between myself and the King, 
the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Colonel A. J. 
Hills, and the Incorporated Medical Practitioners' 
Association on the subject of "The Guelph System 
of Treatment for Cancer," for the introduction of 
which I received the thanks of the King, while the 
professional clique suppressed the system without 
any investigation whatever. 

Better that millions should die from cancer than 
that the identity of Prince John of Great Britain 
and Ireland should be brought so prominently be- 
fore the nation as a servant of his people by the 
introduction of the rational system of treatment 
for the greatest scourge of mankind. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

I SAIL FOR THE UNITED STATES TO TEEAT A BLIND 

MILLIONAIRE BUT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE 

PHILISTINES OF NEW YORK 

The modern town of Thatone on the Salwein 
river is the site of the ancient city of Soovana- 
boome, the capital of the Burmese Kingdom. 

The ruins of the walls of this ancient city still 
remain. The Buddha Sakyamuni, according to the 
zat-thas (anterior birth stories of Buddha) was 
the crown prince of that Kingdom in one of his 
anterior existences. 

For more than two thousand years Thatone has 
been a place of pilgrimage — the Mecca of Bud- 
dhists. The first Buddhist missionaries sent to 
Burma by the Buddhist Council of King Asoka 
the Great were sent to Thatone in honor of the 
Prince Sidartha Sakyamuni. 

In the month of March, 1897, it was my privilege 
to attend the annual festival in Thatone, which 
is attended by many thousands of Buddhists from 
all parts of the Buddhist world. 

The High Priest, U-Thee-la (the endowed one 
or one who has attained wisdom), was present at 
the festival of that year. 

U-Thee-La was reverenced as a man of God. 
He lived in the jungles, sleeping under the trees, 

309 



310 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

partaking of the fruits and herbs of nature. He 
was a friend of the wild beasts of the jungle, there 
being an understanding between them. 

In other words, tigers, bears, elephants, and 
other wild beasts were on friendly terms with this 
holy man. 

For over sixty years he had lived thus, sepa- 
rated from all human habitation. 

While separated from the world U-Thee-La 
exercised great power for good; the sick sought 
his aid and were restored to health by his word 
and blessing. Those who will study the life and 
works of U-Thee-La will be convinced of the truth 
of the statement made by Jesus of Nazareth, ' ' The 
things that I do shall ye do also, and greater 
things shall ye do." 

During the festival the High Priest, U-Thee-La, 
camped in the jungles, according to his custom, 
several miles from the town. Accompanied by 
Moung Hpe, the assistant commissioner, Moung 
Hpo, a Barrister-at-law, and other representative 
Buddhists, I one day paid a visit to the High 
Priest. Much to the surprise of those present, he 
made obeisance to me and, addressing the assem- 
bly in Burmese referred to me according to the 
Buddhist custom, metaphorically, as "The door 
of the church — the Way. ' ' 

He then described my work in England in 1894 
and 1895 ; and described places and halls in which 
I had lectured, and people whom I had treated, 
although he had never been out of Burma. He ex- 
plained the mission work in which I was then en- 
gaged and of my plans for extending the same, 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 311 

but told me that my work would be left to 
others as I would receive a than-cho-sa (a cable- 
gram) calling me on a journey to the West which 
would occupy three months. He also foretold 
many things that would happen to me when in the 
United States. 

I did not see how any journey could occupy three 
months, and I had not the remotest idea of leaving 
Burma at that time. 

In the month of June, 1897, I received a cable- 
gram calling me to New York to treat the blind 
millionaire, the late Charles Broadway Rouse. I 
sailed from Rangoon on the 30th of June, 1897. 

I had a commission from a certain organization 
to the King of Siam, who was then in London 
attending the Diamond Jubilee of Her late Majes- 
ty Queen Victoria. This commission detained me 
for some time in England; but I finally reached 
my destination on the 30th September, or exactly 
three months from the date of my departure from 
Burma. 

Many of the things foretold by the High Priest 
U-Thee-La have been verified in the same manner 
as was the predicted change in my life from India 
to America. 

Previous to my arrival in America I had en- 
gaged the services of a consulting physician. This 
gentleman, as I thought, bore a most estimable 
character and was, supposedly, a man of such pub- 
lic prominence that I considered him a great ac- 
quisition for the mission which had brought me to 
this country. He was an M. A., M. D., the author 
of many books, the pastor of "The People's 



312 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Church," president of "The Humanitarian 
League," and lecturer in a large medical institu- 
tion which it was said employed many lecturers 
and physicians. 

I requested my representative, Dr. M to en- 
gage a room for me. He placed a hall room at my 
disposal in his own house at the moderate rental 
of $10 per week. He was receiving rent from the 
New York Woman's Hospital, which occupied the 
parlor floor and basement of the house, during the 
improvements then being made in the hospital. 
He was also receiving rent for the upper floors of 
the house. I discovered later that in addition to 
paying $45.00 per month for the hall room, as a 
sub-tenant, I was also supposed to be the tenant 
of the house, being responsible for the rent of 
$200 per month; I further learned that the furni- 
ture of the whole house had been purchased at 
my expense. Investigation revealed the fact that 
the medical institution with which my representa- 
tive was supposed to be connected had never ex- 
isted, and that the other concerns, while on paper, 
had no standing whatever. 

The bubble burst and the landlord secured the 
eviction of his tenants when I exposed the fraud. 

Charles Broadway Rouss, the blind millionaire, 
sent his private secretary, a Mr. Smith, to me with 
the information that his substitute was at my dis- 
posal. He was a poor blind man whom Rouss had 
engaged at $1.00 per day, to try the treatment, 
with the promise of a decent funeral in case he 
should be killed by any of the many systems he 
submitted to. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 313 

The substitute informed me that he had been 
treated by one hundred and eighty-six quacks in 
eighteen months and feared he could not survive 
much further punishment. 

I sent word to the millionaire that I wanted no 
dogs on which to try poisons. If he wished me to 
treat him I would do so, and would do what I could 
for his substitute after I had commenced on his 
own case. 

Reference to the newspaper files of 11th to 15th 
of October, 1897, will show that the New York 
Press devoted much space to this noted case, and 
within a week from the time that I took charge of 
Broadway Rouss's case had an examination made 
by their own representatives, who reported that 
' ' a wonder had already been worked, ' ' as when the 
sight was tested Rouss could see and describe 
small objects between one and two feet from his 
eyes. 

The improvement continued and within three 
weeks Rouss could describe small objects between 
three and four feet away. 

Discovering later that the millionaire had given 
wide publicity to his case by the offer of one mil- 
lion dollars to any one who could restore his 
sight for the purpose of making a few million dol- 
lars, and as his private secretary informed me 
that Rouss had no intention whatever of paying a 
million dollars, as he had not thought it possible 
to benefit from any treatment, I threw the case up. 

The wide publicity given to this case brought 
the millionaire thousands of letters from the blind 
and people with failing sight from all parts of the 



31 4< Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

world. It was said that his mail from such people 
exceeded half a ton in one day. It was explained 
to me that a certain Chicago millionaire had 
agreed to pay one million dollars in advance for 
treatment on receipt of a letter from my patient 
confirming the newspaper reports of the improve- 
ment in his case. This letter my patient was pre- 
pared to write on my entering into partnership 
with him on a 50 per cent, basis, which I refused 
to do on the ground that as my patient had pre- 
viously stated that he did not believe it possible 
to benefit in any way from my treatment he was 
still prepared to recommend my treatment for 
the purpose of gaining a large sum of money. 

As his sight had actually been improved to some 
extent at that time he could, of course, have truth- 
fully recommended my treatment, but this fact 
did not alter the lack of principle in the motive 
by which he was actuated in the first instance. 

Broadway Rouss had agreed to pay me ten 
thousand dollars on the least improvement of his 
sight, and the balance of the contingent fee of 
one million dollars when he could see well enough 
to walk about without aid. The improvement was 
made, but I did not receive one penny from my 
patient. I had come to this country from further 
India at my own expense, more in the interest of 
science than for any pecuniary benefit to myself, 
but had not counted upon the philistines into 
whose hands I had fallen. 



CHAPTER XXXV 

TRAVELS IN THE INTEREST OF SCIENCE 1 GO TO CALI- 
FORNIA IN THE EARTHQUAKE OF SAN FRANCISCO 

1 RETURN TO ENGLAND CANCER RESEARCH 

1 RECEIVE THE THANKS OF MY 

FATHER, KING EDWARD VII 

I sailed for Germany in April, 1898, and crossed 
over to London a few weeks later, where I had 
the pleasure of again meeting the Countess Con- 
stance Wachmeister, who had previously gone to 
New York for the purpose of consulting me about 
her eyes. As she wished to continue the treatment 
she followed me to Europe and remained under 
my care in Paris for about three months. 

I had gone to Europe for the purpose of taking 
a little rest. My hopes in this matter were very 
soon shattered. Within twenty-four hours of my 
arrival in Paris I was a very busy man, having 
a clientele which included a number of the royalty 
and nobility of Europe and Asia, this number 
being daily increased by patients from all parts 
of Europe. 

The Season of 1898 in Paris was somewhat ex- 
tended by some of the fair patients, whose im- 
provement justified a few weeks longer stay in the 
French Capital. 

315 



316 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

After a short tour through Europe I spent the 
summer at Tunbridge Wells. The winter of that 
year I spent in London and returned to the United 
States in the month of March, 1899, when I pro- 
ceeded to California. I had intended to have re- 
turned to the Orient, but seeing the possibilities 
of the Golden West to secure the necessary capi- 
tal to inaugurate my various plans for economic 
reform and medical institutions I remained in 
San Francisco and went into the mining business. 

In December, 1899, I entered into partnership 
with the celebrated cancer specialist, the late 
Eev. George W. Carpender, M.D., the founder 
of the rational medical treatment for cancer. We 
established the International Polyclinic, with 
which was incorporated the Institute of Ayurveda. 
Dr. Carpender had been a specialist in the treat- 
ment of cancer for forty years, and for many 
years enjoyed an extensive practice in Chicago, 
patients being sent to him from all parts of the 
country as well as from Europe. 

Our association in practice was mutually bene- 
ficial in that, while Dr. Carpender 's system was 
for the treatment of external cancer, my own sys- 
tem of treatment was by internal medication and 
external application, the basis of which systems 
I acquired during my investigation of Ayurveda, 
the ancient medical system of India. The value 
of these systems of treatment was demonstrated 
by successful clinical results covering a period 
of many years. 

The combined systems of Dr. Carpender and 
my own were subsequently submitted to the Im- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 317 

perial Cancer Kesearch Fund in 1906, under the 
style of "The Guelph Sterilization Cure for 
Cancer." 

The subject was also brought to the notice of 
His late Majesty King Edward VII, the Founder 
and Patron of the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund. 

His Majesty thanked me, officially, for having 
introduced the Guelph Systems; he also com- 
manded that the same be submitted to the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund. 

I was advised by physicians in London previ- 
ous to the submission of these systems by my- 
self and His Majesty the King to the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund, that in the event of my 
submitting the same they would be suppressed. 
In the interest of suffering humanity and the 
saving of life, the correspondence on the subject 
of the Guelph Cancer Cures is reproduced in the 
Addenda. It will be observed that the subject was 
suppressed without even being brought to the no- 
tice of the General Council, thereby reducing the 
largest and most important public body engaged 
in cancer research throughout the world to the 
ridiculous position of a one-man institution. Not- 
withstanding that the late King Edward was the 
Founder and Patron of the Imperial Cancer Re- 
search Fund, the Prince of Wales the President 
of the organization, and many noblemen and 
others, members of the General Council, and that 
the institution is supported by millions of dollars 
generously contributed by the public, the one man, 
Dr. Bashford, did not hesitate to assume personal 



318 Memoirs of Prince John De GucJph 

responsibility in suppressing the Guelph Systems 
without having made the slightest investigation 
thereof. 

The annual reports of Dr. Bashford in 190G 
and 1907, stated that all alleged cures brought be- 
fore the Imperial Cancer Research Fund had been 
' ' submitted to impartial tests and that no curative 
value could be attached to any of them." In view 
of the fact that the Guelph Systems had been 
submitted in the regular manner with the request 
that the same be submitted to "impartial tests" 
in the treatment of cancer, the reports quoted 
were obviously misleading and incorrect. 

The public was further informed that our pres- 
ent knowledge of cancer did not "even justify the 
hope of a new cure"; and the public was further 
cautioned against making any attempt to save the 
lives of any of the hundreds of thousands of vic- 
tims of cancer by any system of treatment that is 
not endorsed by that one-man institution. Thus it 
is that the credulity of the public is played upon, 
and the victims of one of the greatest scourges 
of the earth are left to suffer and die through 
prejudice and bias against the discoverer and 
founder of a cure for no other reason than that, 
having been robbed of his birthright as the eldest 
legitimate son of the King, it was not desired that 
honor should be done him lest the people should 
discover the true facts concerning his legitimate 
rights as the first Prince of the Eeigning House 
and demand that he be given his lawful hereditary 
right. 

Great Britain was always just and firm in a 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 319 

righteous cause and to know the truth would be 
to act with the people. Thus rny half-brother, 
George, could not afford to have me become too 
widely known and his flunkey in office, naturally, 
stood by him. 

But I ask the British public of to-day, Shall this 
infamous condition of things go on? Will you per- 
mit the work and research of years in the cause of 
the saving of life to be thus cast aside ? Will you 
see fair play in this fight for the welfare and lives 
of my people, and that I receive just treatment 
and a fair hearing of and concerning my rights as 
the heir-at-law of my father, the late King Edward 
VII? I have unimpeachable evidence to show and 
the people have a right to see and hear me; Par- 
liament should investigate my case without preju- 
dice or bias, such as was shown in the disposition 
of the case of George IV and Mrs. Fitzherbert, 
which case was suppressed by infamous lies to the 
lasting shame and dishonor of the British Par- 
liament and to the British nation. 

It should also be stated that in consequence of 
my having received the information above re- 
ferred to, to the effect that my system for the 
treatment of cancer and other diseases would be 
suppressed by the Imperial Cancer Eesearch 
Fund, I also submitted particulars of the said sys- 
tems to the Incorporated Medical Practitioners' 
Association in London through the official solici- 
tor of that organization, Colonel Arthur J. Hills 
of Messrs. Burgess, Cosens & Co. Eeference to 
the correspondence between myself, Colonel Hills 
nnd the secretary of the Incorporated Medical 



320 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Practitioners' Association, reproduced in the 
Addenda, speaks for itself. As stated therein 
it is my purpose to establish medical institu- 
tions in England as and when my financial cir- 
cumstances admit, and to challenge the organiza- 
tions above referred to, by the treatment of cancer, 
consumption, and other forms of tuberculosis in 
the proposed institutions. 

It was for the above purpose that I have inter- 
ested myself in my late mining and other 
business. 

Practical demonstration of the value of said 
systems is the most convincing method by which 
to command both professional and public recog- 
nition and to silence my traducers. 

In the year 1902, having acquired valuable min- 
ing interests in California by which I thought it 
possible to not only establish a large medical in- 
stitution, but also to introduce my proposed in- 
dustrial development in India, I addressed a paper 
on the latter subject to my father and further com- 
munications to him, and, also to the India office 
and to the press in India, in 1903. 

A limited liability company was organized for 
the purpose of carrying out this commercial enter- 
prise, extracts from the prospectus of which com- 
pany, as well as from correspondence on the sub- 
ject, will be found in the Addenda. 

The development of this enterprise was delayed 
through political intrigue and interference of in- 
terested parties. The plan had received the most 
enthusiastic and unanimous support of the press 
and authorities throughout India. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 321 

In the month of March, 1906, I had acquired the 
rights of an improved and valuable system for 
generating power from the current of streams ; a 
system which had been favorably reported upon 
by a London engineer who had been engaged in 
the construction of the Egyptian barrages, as the 
best suited for the Nile and for the canal systems 
of irrigation in India. 

I had already arranged to proceed to London 
in accordance with the terms of my agreement 
with the Current Power Company in the month 
of April, when all models, current motors, pumps 
and other machinery were destroyed by the con- 
flagration following the earthquake of San Fran- 
cisco on the 18th of April, 1906. 

My departure for London was delayed until the 
month of July in consequence of the heavy losses 
sustained through that catastrophe. 

The experience of the San Francisco earthquake 
and fire of 1906, in which many lives were lost, 
about 300,000 people rendered homeless by the de- 
struction of the city, and causing a loss of $600,- 
000,000 in property, was one never to be forgotten. 

Having volunteered my services to the Health 
Department and to the General Relief Commit- 
tees, my duties took me to various parts of the 
city during and after the conflagration and af- 
forded me opportunities to observe the efficient 
work of both the military and civil authorities 
under the most trying circumstances. 

The expedition with which so large a body of 
homeless people were formed into various camps 
p.nd amply provided for, was most commendable 



322 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

to the officers of the Local and Federal Govern- 
ment, and, also to citizens of the United States 
who responded so promptly to the urgent need 
of that afflicted city. 

One of the most noteworthy instances o r 
thoughtful and noble generosity was that of Mr. 
William Randolph Hearst's Emergency Maternity 
Home. 

When it is realized that about 182 women were 
delivered on the streets of San Francisco, many 
of them prematurely as a result of shock, within 
a few hours after the earthquake, the importance 
of this institution is apparent. 

Mr. W. R. Hearst not only converted his Oak- 
land residence into a Maternity Home, but also 
had other buildings constructed for the same pur- 
pose. He also sent in train-loads of provisions, 
dress materials of all descriptions, and sewing ma- 
chines. In addition to the vast sums of money ex- 
pended in various directions, that gentleman also 
set aside the sum of $100 for each and every 
infant born in his Maternity Home. In this man- 
ner the best medical attention and care was af- 
forded to over 1,200 mothers and infants who, 
under the terrible conditions prevailing at that 
time, would otherwise, no doubt, have suffered 
severely or perished. 

The records of the institution show that not a 
mother or a child was lost. 

The Nursing Sisters of San Francisco were also 
worthy of the highest praise for their heroic and 
untiring service at the fire lines, in caring for the 
injured firemen and other fire-fighters, sometimes 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 323 

carrying them a distance of several hundred yards 
to safety between columns of fire and over burning 
debris. Many society ladies also joined in this 
heroic work of rescue at great personal inconveni- 
ence and danger, conveying the injured in their 
motor-cars and other vehicles to the hospitals and 
other places of safety. 

The mementos of this catastrophe which I prize 
very highly are the following letters of thanks 
from the General Relief Committee for services 
I was able to render the city, of which I had so 
long been a guest, and my Pass through the lines. 

Headquarters of 

BERKELEY RELIEF COMMITTEE 

Mason McDuffie Office, Center St. and Shattuck Ave. 

Berkeley, Cal., April 28th, 1910. 
Executive Staff: 

The Mayor, Mr. T. R. Rickard, Inter. Municipal 
Dept. 

Commissary, Prof. E. E. Brown. 

Finance, Mr. F. M. Wilson. 

Distribution of Refugees, Duncan McDuffie. 

Chinese and Japanese, Prof. J. H. Fryer. 

Health and Sanitation, Dr. G. F. Reinhardt. 

Clothing, tenting, etc., Rev. J. H. Lathrope. 

Housing and Camps, Victor Robertson. 

My Dear Doctor: 

On behalf of the Berkeley Board of Health, I 
want to extend to you our most hearty thanks for 
the service which you have done us in this trying 
time. Personally, it has been most gratifying to 



324s Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

have the work, which you undertook, so well car- 
ried out. 

The Relief Committee wishes me to express its 
appreciation of the service which you have 
rendered. 

It is to be hoped in our lifetime it will not 
be necessary for us to contribute our assistance in 
so great a calamity. 

Sincerely yours, 

(Signed) G. F. Reinhardt. 
J. G. Norman, 
Berkeley, Cal. 

To the Civil and Military Authorities: 

Pass Dr. John Guelph-Norman through 
all lines within your jurisdiction. 

(Signed) Dr. R. Bine. 
Chief Ass't Sanitary Officer in Charge Golf 
Links and Richmond District 



CHAPTER XXXVI 



ti 



BUSINESS IN NEW YORK 1 FOUND THE "AMERICAN 

STATIST" INTEREST MYSELF IN AMERICAN POLI- 
TICS A LADY OF WORTH THE AMERICAN 

LEGISLATIVE UNION — PUBLIC HEALTH 

SOCIETY TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF 

THE PUBLIC HEALTH 

In December, 1909, I came to New York, in 
the interest of the Current Power Company of 
Tacoma, Washington, with which I had been as- 
sociated since March, 1903, and also in the interest 
of large irrigation and colonization projects on 
the Pacific Coast in which I had interested Mr. E. 
H. Harriman and others. 

In the early part of 1909 I established The 
American Statist, a journal of international 
finance, industrial development and commercial 
expansion. 

From one of my editorials in the first number, 
the following is quoted : 

"In the creation of The American Statist* de- 
signed to be, like our London contemporary, The 
Statist, a conservative and authoritative interna- 



*The American Statist, July 17, 1909. 
325 



326 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tional financial journal, the aim and purpose of the 
founder and management is to publish in the inter- 
est of the financial world a reliable statistical, 
critical and analytical review. . . . The American 
Statist is conducted under conservative manage- 
ment, the bulwark of our British house ; and pro- 
gressive policy, the secret of American financial 
success. 

" Commercial expansion on legitimate lines of 
healthful competition and the sealing of friendly 
relations between all nations by creating and 
maintaining friendly and equitable commercial 
relations between all centers of Occidental and 
Oriental civilization is the only means whereby in- 
ternational peace can be permanently established. 

"Monopoly is the bloody historian of the 
world's history of war, slavery, famine and pesti- 
lence, the plunderer and wholesale assassin in the 
name of commerce, civilization and Christianity. " 

With a view to advancing my policy for the es- 
tablishment of international peace on the lines of 
equity and justice in our domestic and foreign 
commerce, as outlined in the foregoing quotation 
from my article in The American Statist, and, 
realizing that the maintenance of national peace 
is of paramount importance, and the only founda- 
tion upon which we can hope to construct inter- 
national peace, I prevailed upon an American or- 
ganization to establish The American Legislative 
Union. 

The object of the organization as introduced 
by me was as follows : 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 327 
AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE UNION 

(A Political Censor for Constitutional Government.) 

The American Legislative Union is a national 
nominative and elective organization for the per- 
petuation of the national legislature consistent 
with the Constitution of the United States of 
America and of the national motto, "In God We 
Trust, ' ' and, to that end : 

1. To conduct a continuous political campaign 
to secure the nomination and election of candi- 
dates for State and National Legislatures who 
possess qualifications calculated to serve the best 
interests of the nation by faithful adherence to the 
spirit and letter of the Constitution, irrespective 
of the political party or parties to which the can- 
didates may belong. 

2. To secure the enactment of legislative meas- 
ures to provide for the proper conduct of any 
and all matters most favorable to the advance- 
ment of national prosperity and permanent good 
of the people. 

Mrs. Alma "Webster Powell, one of the most bril- 
liant and public-spirited, and also one of the most 
beautiful ladies in New York, a graduate in Law, 
Music, and other subjects of the Columbia Uni- 
versity, very kindly accepted the presidency of 
the American Legislative Union. Her efficiency 
as an executive officer is practically demonstrated 
by the great success which attended the work of 
the organization during the season of 1909-1910. 

Mrs. Alma Webster Powell further compli- 



328 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

mented me by carrying out my plans for the es- 
tablishment of a Public Health Society, on the 
lines adopted for my international campaign in the 
interest of the public health, as quoted below. It 
was decided that the local organization under Mrs. 
Alma Webster Powell should be incorporated un- 
der the name of the Public Good Society. 

The Society, the headquarters of which are at 
the home of Mrs. Alma Webster Powell, on Presi- 
dent street, Brooklyn, New York, had a most suc- 
cessful season in 1909-1910. 

It has now a membership of over one thousand 
of the most influential ladies and gentlemen of 
New York, and did much good among the sick 
poor. 

The great success which attends Mrs. Powell's 
public work must be attributed to her accomplish- 
ments both as a prima donna of unusual brilliancy 
and as a public speaker, and also to her personal 
charm and beauty and wonderful vivacity. 

The international work of the Public Health So- 
city, of which the American organization is the 
offspring, is conducted separately from that of the 
American corporation. 

PUBLIC HEALTH SOCIETY. 

(Founded by Prince John De Guelph.) 
Brooklyn, New York. 

A nation in arms fighting for existence is irre- 
sistible. Tuberculosis and cancer claim over fifty 
million victims in each decade. The national foe 
demands national resistance. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 329 

Our Demand for Legislative Measures in the 
Interest of the Public Health. 

Recognizing that the most important duty of the 
Legislature is to raise the standard of the public 
health, and, that the Legislature, in order to suc- 
cessfully perform this national duty, should have 
the support of the public; and, further, that or- 
ganized cooperation of public bodies is the most 
effective means of supporting the Government, the 
Public Health Society is established for the pur- 
pose of promoting the public health as an 
auxiliary to State and National Legislatures, the 
Public Health Department and other institutions, 
and to that end : 

I. To secure the introduction of legislative 
measures to provide for the promotion of the pub- 
lic health and the prevention of disease, more par- 
ticularly for the prevention and treatment of tu- 
berculosis and cancer; and, for the proper con- 
duct of any and all matters most favorable to 
the advancement of national prosperity and per- 
manent good of the people. 

First bills to be introduced to State and Na- 
tional Legislatures are as follows : 

1. Bills to provide for the introduction of edu- 
cational and clinical measures for the prevention 
and treatment of tuberculosis and cancer. 

Educational measures in the public schools for 
the instruction in hygiene, sanitary science, toxi- 
cology and allied subjects. 

For the establishment of lecture bureaus and 
classes for instruction to residents of the tene- 



830 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 

ment districts, factory workers and to the gen- 
eral public. 

For the appointment of health and sanitary 
commissions to enforce legislative measures for 
the prevention of tuberculosis and for the promo- 
tion and maintenance of the public health. 

For the establishment of municipal and State 
sanatoriums for the proper care and treatment of 
all classes suffering from tuberculosis or cancer. 

2. Bills to provide for the introduction of 
measures for the rational solution of the liquor 
problem. 

3. Medical Jurisprudence. Bills to provide 
for the more general recognition of medical juris- 
prudence in the Legislature; to provide for 
the elucidation of judicial questions by the prac- 
tical application of forensic medicine and in- 
stitutional treatment, in conformity with phy- 
siological and humane principles, in the adjudi- 
cation of cases in which a breach of the peace or 
infringement of the law may be caused by, or at- 
tributed to a manifestation of abnormal or patho- 
logical data of a psycho-physical nature in ac- 
cused persons, as in the habitual drunkard, tech- 
nically chronic alcoholic mania, the neurosis and 
psychoses of alcoholism and other narcomanias, 
and as provided for in the "Inebriates Act" of 
Great Britain providing for institutional treat- 
ment of chronic alcoholic subjects, in the place of 
the old "penal act" which, the Home Secretary 
declared, had "utterly failed in its purpose." 

II. To establish and maintain separate bureaus 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 331 

for the systematic development of the various ob- 
jects of the Public Health Society. 

Propaganda.— Recognizing the great responsi- 
bility of the physician as a moral teacher, physi- 
cians will be appointed as lecturers by the Public 
Health Society in every town and city at home 
and abroad. 

Lectures. — Territorial lecture circuits will be 
established and regular public lectures arranged 
for in all towns of importance. 

High class musical programmes will be ar- 
ranged in order to make the work both instructive 
and entertaining and for general social improve- 
ment. 

Classes. — Classes will be organized and con- 
ducted under the auspices of the Public Health 
Society for the purpose of imparting instruction 
to mothers in the care of themselves and children, 
domestic science, social hygiene, and all matters 
treating on the preservation of health. 

Classes for young women to be conducted by 
physicians, nurses and others. 

Classes for young men will also be conducted 
by physicians and others authorized thereto. 

The propaganda will embrace measures for the 
prevention of tuberculosis and cancer and other 
diseases of remote origin. 

III. Measures for the prevention of alcoholism 
and for the amelioration of other degenerating 
conditions resulting from abnormal sociological 
influences. 

Psycho-Physical Laboratory.— -This department 
is established for the purpose of promoting the 



332 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

practical application of physiological psychology 
to abnormal or pathological data in the insane, 
criminals, inebriates, and in defective classes gen- 
erally, in asylums for the insane, prisons, hospi- 
tals and other institutions, and in social com- 
munities. 

Sanatoria. — To establish and maintain sana- 
toria at various centers for the treatment of per- 
sons of all classes suffering from tuberculosis or 
cancer and for the treatment of all diseases known 
to be pre-disposing causes of tuberculosis and 
cancer. 

To establish one or more tent cities in Califor- 
nia, Colorado and in other places where the cli- 
matic conditions are most favorable to the recov- 
ery of patients suffering from the diseases 
specified. 

The work of the Sanatoria to be made self- 
supporting. Profits accruing from the medical 
department, donations, endowments and bequests, 
to be devoted to the treatment and relief of the 
sick poor and for the extension of propaganda 
at home and abroad. 

The sick poor will not be placed in the humiliat- 
ing position of charity cases, but will receive the 
benefit of medical treatment and such financial 
and material aid as may be necessary to their 
recovery and to assist them to help themselves. 
The cost of treatment and advances that may be 
made to those in temporary need may be refunded 
by them at their convenience, with the exception 
of extreme cases that may require permanent aid. 

Literary Department. — This department will 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 333 

compile for publication authoritative data on the 
subjects treated upon by the Society from the 
results of researches in various countries, from 
the clinical experience of medical officers of the 
Public Health Society, from the records of public 
institutions and other authorities. 

The official organ and other literature of the 
Public Health Society will constitute a most valu- 
able feature of the propaganda for the alleviation 
of suffering, the saving of life, and the improve- 
ment of the race. 

They who would be free from tuberculosis must 
themselves strike the blow. 

Your cooperation is invited in this national cam- 
paign against the national foe. 



CHAPTER XXXVII 



CONCLUSION 



In closing this narrative of the history of my 
birth and of my life's work and research in the 
interest of the Empire and for the good of hu- 
manity, I beg to tender my thanks to my many 
faithful friends and loyal supporters throughout 
the Empire and also to the Press and to the peo- 
ple of the United States for the many courtesies 
extended to me during the twelve years of my resi- 
dence in this country, and, more particularly, for 
the many letters of condolence and expression of 
sentiments of sympathy, friendship and loyalty 
received by me from all parts of the Empire and 
of the United States. 

I am especially indebted to the New York 
American, The New York Tribune, The New York 
Times, The Neiv York Herald, The New York 
Journal, The New York World, The Brooklyn 
Eagle, The Boston American, The San Francisco 
Examiner, The Los Angeles Examiner, The New 
York Staats Zeitung and other papers. First, for 
the great courtesy extended to me by the first 
three papers above mentioned, at the time of the 
serious illness and death of my father, the late 
King Edward VII, by having had transmitted to 

334 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 335 

me by telephone, each successive bulletin report- 
ing my father's condition immediately upon the 
receipt of the same over their private wires from 
London. 

Secondly, for the courtesy extended to me by 
all the above mentioned papers and the Press 
throughout the United States for the favorable 
mention of the various political messages and 
documents forwarded by me to the British Par- 
liament, the Prime Minister, and to my half- 
brother, George, and also for their plain statement 
of my case through their columns whereby my 
rightful position as the eldest legitimate son of 
the late King Edward and the first Princess Con- 
sort has been made known throughout the civil- 
ized world. 

The importance and value of the services ren- 
dered to me by the Press in telephoning the bulle- 
tins to me as the same were received will be better 
understood from the fact that it was due to that 
courtesy that I was enabled to send my last mes- 
sage by cable through George and the Prime 
Minister in time to reach Buckingham Palace some 
hours previous to my father's death. 

I have stated in an earlier part of these Memoirs 
that my sensitive nature has suffered much 
through the secret sorrow of my life which I have 
been obliged to bear in silence. This suffering 
has increased as years have passed by, and my 
every effort to demand that due honor be paid to 
my mother by the nation was quietly but sys- 
tematically opposed and the knowledge that she, 
the legal wife and rightful Queen of England, was 



336 Memoirs of Brince John De Guelph 

growing prematurely old under the burden of a 
broken heart, through the political intrigue insti- 
gated by those whose representatives have dogged 
my steps through Europe, Asia, and America, and 
also that through the same political intrigue my 
every effort to give to my country the results of 
my life's work have been likewise secretly sup- 
pressed, notwithstanding the recognition and sup- 
port accorded to me by my father. 

But all the secret sorrow and suffering of my 
life, too great to be expressed in words, was as 
nothing to be compared to the torture and agony 
of mind when I realized that, notwithstanding all 
my personal efforts, all my prayers, and all en- 
treaties to my father, the last of which under date 
of April 10th, 1910, will be found in the Addenda, 
my father was not only passing from this life with- 
out paying proper honor to his first and lawful 
wife, my mother, but that he was passing away 
while I, separated from him by thousands of miles, 
was unable to see him during his last days on 
earth to demand justice for my mother, myself 
and the nation. 

I had foreseen the approaching dissolution of 
my father and called his attention thereto in my 
cablegram of November 9th, 1909, in my usual 
birthday greeting, which was as follows: 

"My filial affection deepens as each anniversary 
brings us nearer to God." 

Realizing during the present year the shortness 
of time that my father had to live, I wrote: 

' ' Should it not be the will of God that we should 
be so blessed on earth (that we may enjoy in our 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 337 

maturer years the affection and companionship of 
father and son, of son and father, that personal 
affection and companionship so long denied to us 
by the intervention of a cruel fate), we know that 
in a few short years at most we will meet with 
those of our race who have gone before, where we 
will stand, equal before the King of Kings — father 
and son and mother! No more will a false and un- 
holy custom permit of our separation as in this 
so-called Christian world." 

As in the last years of his life and during his 
fatal illness, so, too, in death, I was unable to be 
present to pay the last honors of a son to father. 
Separated by the broad expanse of the Atlantic 
Ocean, my only consolation was in attending the 
funeral service held at St. Paul's Church in New 
York City. 



Was the discarded wife, the rightful Queen of 
England — my mother — permitted to view the re- 
mains of her husband — my father, the King, who, 
moved by a false sense of duty to the nation and 
the coercion of his mother, had discarded both wife 
and child? 

It is for me to discover and reveal to the civil- 
ized world the identity of the "mysterious, veiled 
lady in black," who, I am reliably informed, pre- 
sented herself at Buckingham Palace, attired in 
deepest mourning and bowed with grief, and re- 
quested that she might be permitted to view the 
remains of the King. 

Upon her request being refused and being or- 



338 Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 

dered from the Palace, it is said that she de- 
manded and obtained an audience with the Dowa- 
ger Queen Alexandra, and that upon her reveal- 
ing her identity she was received with deference 
and permitted to remain alone with her dead. 

It has been intimated to me that the lady in 
question was none other than the first Princess 
Consort, my mother. 

If the publication of my Memoirs will lead to 
the adoption of the reforms to which I have re- 
ferred for the improvement of the condition of 
the people of Ireland and India in particular, and 
of the British Empire and of the world in general, 
my personal sacrifice of all that life holds dear — 
home, and the birthright of every creature, the 
love, care, and protection of father and mother, 
will not have been in vain. Half a century wan- 
dering over the face of the earth in search of 
knowledge has been patiently and silently pursued 
by me in the hope that my Heavenly Father, the 
King of Kings, would, in due time, defend the 
right and establish justice in the interest of my 
people and for the peace of the world. 

DIEU ET MON DROIT. 

MAY GOD DEFEND THE EIGHT. 



ADDENDA 



ADDENDA 

The following copies of correspondence and photographic re- 
production of telegrams and letters between the Prince John 
and his father, the late King Edward VII; with his half- 
brother, the de facto King George, and Premier Asquith, and 
other Members of the Houses of Lords and Commons, prior to 
and following King Edward's death; and with the various 
Departments of Government Service covering a period of 
many years afford, even to the person of ordinary intelligence, 
conclusive evidence of the legal and official recognition and 
protection accorded to Prince John by his father, the King, 
as the direct legitimate issue of the House of Guelph. 

The fact that since 1893-4, when the identity of Prince John 
was first officially recognized by his father, his relationship 
as the eldest legitimate son of King Edward has been univer- 
sally known through the wide publicity given to the same, and 
is in itself prima facia evidence that it was the will and pleas- 
ure of the late King that Prince John should be honored as 
his legitimate son and heir-at-law. 

If further evidence be wanted it is to be found in the Com- 
mand issued by His late Majesty under date of 17th Novem- 
ber, 1902, for official recognition of the Author of these 
Memoirs as a Guelph. 



340 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 341 



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Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



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Memoirs of Prmce John De Guelph 343 



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344 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Copies of letters sent to King George, Premier 
Asquith, Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Lord Rose- 
bury, Lord Hugh Cecil, M. P., the Right Hon. 
Winston Churchill, Right Hon. John Redmond, 
Right Hon. David Lloyd-George : 

106 Montague Street, 
Brooklyn, New York. 
19th May, 1910. 
My Dear Brother : 

Some weeks ago I wrote to our revered father 
intimating that I desired to introduce certain 
measures for the elucidation of the existing diffi- 
culties between the Lords and Commons. 

My delay in submitting the same has been due 
to a delicate sense of my appreciation of father's 
superior knowledge and ability to solve the prob- 
lem without interference on my part. 

In forwarding the enclosed recommendation for 
the amendment of the Constitution to provide for 
the introduction of measures to establish an Im- 
perial Parliament on the lines set forth therein, I 
trust that I am rendering a service to you and.to 
my country. 

Copies of the enclosed paper have been for- 
warded to the Premier and Lord Balfour and 
other representatives in Parliament. 

You have my full sympathy in the trying cir- 
cumstances in which our father's death has placed 
you. 

Your affectionate brother, 

(Signed) John Wettin-Guelph. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 345 

106 Montague Street, 
Brooklyn, New York. 
19th May, 1910. 

The Right Hon. Premier Asquith, 
House of Commons, 

London, S. W. 
Dear Sir: 

I have the honor to request that you will be good 
enough to bring before Parliament at an early 
date the enclosed recommendations for the amend- 
ment of the Constitution to provide for the estab- 
lishment of a third House, to be composed of an 
equal number of Peers and Commons, and, if the 
same be deemed advisable, of Privy Councillors, 
as the Supreme Legislative Council to be presided 
over by the Sovereign. 

It appears to me that an Imperial Parliament 
equally represented by each political party and 
by representatives of each Kingdom would consti- 
tute a supreme authority satisfactory to all parties 
and people of the United Kingdom, in that not 
only would each party and Kingdom be fairly 
represented according to their respective strength, 
but the plan would add dignity and authority to 
both the Lords and Commons rather than to de- 
tract from the authority as at present invested 
in each House. 

I am, Sir, yours faithfully, 
(Signed) 
John George Edwaed R. Wettin-Guelph. 



346 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



PKOPOSED AMENDMENT OF BRITISH CONSTITUTION 

TO RESTORE ORDER IN BRITISH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT 

BY 

JOHN GEORGE EDWARD REX WETTIN-GUELPH. 



BILLS PASSED BY COMMONS AND VETOED BY HOUSE OF 

LORDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO 

THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, 

COMPOSED OF SEVENTY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, 

SEVENTY PEERS AND SEVENTY PRIVY 

COUNCILLORS. 

THE SOVEREIGN TO PRESIDE OVER THE IMPERIAL 

PARLIAMENT, 

THE SUPREME LEGISLATIVE BODY. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 347 

TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT 

OP 

THE UNITED KINGDOM OP GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 

Whereas, the dissensions between the House of 
Commons and the House of Lords are responsible 
for the present political crisis in the Upper and 
Lower Houses of the British Parliament and 

Whereas, the existing crisis has caused a condi- 
tion of chaos throughout the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland, the British possessions 
beyond the seas and the Empire of India affecting 
commerce and concomitantly the peace and well- 
being of the people, a menace to the power and 
authority of our Constitutional Government and 

Whereas, that in the event of the dissolution of 
the Constitutional Monarchy of the United King- 
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the safety of the 
Empire would be jeopardized, and the peace of 
the Christian world endangered, and 

Whereas, the remedies heretofore brought be- 
fore Parliament with a view to the consummation 
of an amicable settlement of the existing differ- 
ences between the Upper and Lower Houses of 
Parliament are inapplicable in that the same are 
incompatible with the dignity of our Constitution 
and the prestige of the Empire, to wit : 

1. — To abrogate the right of the power of veto 
of the Upper House is capable of only one in- 
terpretation, that is to say, the House of Lords 



348 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

as proposed to be thereafter constituted would 
be impotent and meaningless as a legislative 
body, having no authority in the government of 
the Empire. 

2. — To create Liberal Peers for no other purpose 
than that of procuring a majority vote of the 
latter over the House of Lords would be to make 
our Constitutional Government an object of 
ridicule, and, at the same time a cause for shame 
to the posterity of the British Empire. 

3. — To abolish the House of Lords and to continue 
to observe the growing tendency to displace 
trained Statesmen in Parliament in favor of 
men who have enjoyed only limited educational 
advantages, and who possess but indifferent 
knowledge of foreign affairs, would eventuate in 
the dissolution of our Constitutional Monarchy, 
to which system of Government we owe our 
greatness as the first of the nations of the earth, 
only to be succeeded by a season of chaos and 
disaster far exceeding the tragic results of the 
Cromwellian blunder, 

Therefore, I, John George Edward Rex of 
Great Britain and Ireland do maintain that the 
best interests of the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland, the British possessions be- 
yond the seas, the Empire of India and the peace 
of the world will be protected by the perpetuation 
of the Constitutional Monarchy of the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and I do. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 349 

Therefore, recommend to the Upper and Lower 
Houses of Parliament the amendment of the Con- 
stitution to provide for the introduction and adop- 
tion of the measures and reforms hereinafter set 
forth for the consummation of the foregoing ob- 
jects, so devoutly to be desired. 

1. — To provide for the establishment of a Supreme 
Parliamentary Body to be designated as the Im- 
perial Parliament or such other title that may 
be deemed appropriate. 

The Imperial Parliament to be composed of 
seventy (or more) Members of the House of 
Commons, seventy (or more) Peers from the 
House of Lords, and (advisedly) seventy Privy 
Councillors. Members of the Imperial Parlia- 
ment to be styled Imperial Councillors. 

Imperial Councillors from the House of Com- 
mons shall be elected by ballot at any general 
or special session of the House duly called and 
shall be represented by all political parties and 
by the respective Kingdoms of the United King- 
dom of Great Britain and Ireland in the exact 
ratio to the full strength of each and every 
party and Kingdom respectfully. 

Imperial Councillors from the House of Lords 
shall in like manner be represented by all par- 
ties and kingdoms in the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland in the exact ratio to 
the full strength of their respective parties, and 
shall be elected by ballot at any general or 
special session of the House of Lords. 



350 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

Imperial Councillors from the Privy Council 
(if such be approved) shall in like manner be in 
the same ratio representing all political parties 
and Kingdoms of the United Kingdom of Great 
Britain and Ireland, and shall be appointed by 
the Sovereign of the Realm. 

The Imperial Parliament shall be dissolved 
at the dissolution of each Parliament and re- 
elected at the first session of each new Parlia- 
ment. 

Vacancies through death or other causes shall 
be filled in the manner hereinabove described 
at the earliest session of Parliament. 



FUNCTION OF THE IMPEKIAL PARLIAMENT. 

The Imperial Parliament shall be the Su- 
preme Legislative Council and the adjudication 
on all legislative measures shall be final, sub- 
ject only to the signature under the Great Seal 
of the Sovereign. 

Each and every bill or legislative measure of 
every kind and description and of every De- 
partment of State brought before Parliament, 
regularly deliberated upon and duly passed by 
the House of Commons, which shall fail in regu- 
lar passage through the House of Lords may be 
returned to the Commons for amendment. In 
the event of the Lords and Commons failing to 
agree or to arrive at a satisfactory issue, any 
and every such bill or legislative measure which 
shall so fail passage through the House of 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 351 

Lords shall be submitted to the Imperial Parlia- 
ment for final action and disposition thereof. 
John George Ed. R. Wettin-Guelph. 
106 Montague Street, 
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A. 
16th May, 1910. 

MESSAGE OP JOHN GEORGE EDWARD REX OP 
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 

To the Members of the Upper and Lower 
Houses of the British Parliament; to the people 
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 
land; to the people of the Colonies and possessions 
of Great Britain beyond the seas; to the people 
of the Empire of India; to the Chief Magistrate 
and Ministers of the United States Government 
and to the people of the United States, under the 
courtesy and protection of which great Republic 
I have enjoyed the privileges of a guest and resi- 
dent for a period of upwards of ten years, and to 
the Rulers and Ministers of the Church and State, 
and to the people of the civilized world, I, John 
George Edward Rex of Great Britain and Ire- 
land hereby extend greeting ; and desire to express 
my grateful appreciation for the courtesy and 
sympathy extended to me privately and through 
the public press in the bereavement which it has 
pleased Almighty God to bring upon me and the 
British Empire in the death of my revered father 
and King, His late Majesty Edward VII — a be- 
reavement so great as is herein explained by rea- 
son of my painful separation from my father at 



352 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the hour of death, that I have resolved to proclaim 
before God, the Church and the civilized world, 
for the future enforcement of the observance of 
the moral and divine law; for the protection of 
England's motherhood, for the just and legiti- 
mate protection of the birthright of innocent off- 
spring, whether issue of Royal or other parents, 
that I, John George Edward Rex of Great 
Britain and Ireland, the legitimate and lawful is- 
sue of the marriage of His late Majesty King 
Edward VII and the first Princess Consort, was 
unjustly and unlawfully deprived of my birth- 
right as the first-born son of the rightful Sover- 
eign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
Ireland, and that I was still more cruelly and un- 
justly deprived of the birthright of every creature 
— the right of a mother's love and a father's care 
in infancy, childhood, and youth, by the unlaw- 
ful exercises of traditional prejudices and jeal- 
ousies of a so-called "royal custom," a custom as 
barbarous and cruel as it is unlawful against both 
Church and State, the unjust action of my late 
grandmother, Queen Victoria, as Sovereign, in the 
cruel separation of my father and my mother and 
myself; the painfulness of the separation having 
forced itself more and more upon me as each suc- 
ceeding year brought us nearer the grave, and is 
now rendered inexpressibly great in consequence 
of the agony of soul arising from the ties of na- 
ture, which give to me the right to be present to 
render the last sacred offices of a first-born son to 
my father and to my country; and, I do hereby 
further proclaim it to be the duty of the people of 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 353 

England and of the Christian world to demand the 
abolition of the so-called "royal custom" of royal 
polygamy which is an abomination in the sight 
of God and man, being a violation of the laws of 
God and of the Church and State ; I further pro- 
claim my firm intention and resolve that in the 
event of my failing to rouse the Christian world 
from its apathy in regard thereto by this appeal 
for the protection of the virtue and honor of 
motherhood, that I do by the Grace of God sol- 
emnly swear to devote my life to the enforcement 
of the law in this matter. 

I proclaim in the name of justice that the so- 
called Royal Marriage Act of 1772, designated 
12 George III C. II, to be and that the same is 
unconstitutional and a violation of the Statutes of 
Great Britain and of the canonical and civil dis- 
abilities by which marriages are regulated, and 
that the so-called Act was recognized by George 
III, the maker thereof, and by his successors, 
George IV, William IV, Victoria, and Edward, as 
unconstitutional and invalid; and that the afore- 
said Monarchs, the Archbishop of Canterbury 
(during the reign of George III, also His Holi- 
ness the Pope of Rome, and all ecclesiastical and 
civil authorities from and including the reign of 
George III have ever recognized the validity of 
marriages, both as a sacrament and as a contract, 
where such have been solemnized contrary to the 
provisions of the so-called Royal Marriage Act; 
and I do 

Demand, that measures shall be taken by the 
Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom 



354< Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

of Great Britain and Ireland to proclaim the val- 
idity of any and all marriages which have been 
contracted contrary to the provisions of the so- 
called Royal Marriage Act, but otherwise in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of the laws of Church 
and State, whether knowledge of such marriage 
has or has not been suppressed from the public, 
as in the case of the marriage of George IV, the 
validity of which was recognized by the then reign- 
ing Sovereign, George III, and other authorities, 
notwithstanding that the same was contracted in 
violation of the Act of William and Mary, known 
as the Bill of Rights, and also in violation of the 
12 George III C. II; and as in the case of the 
first marriage of Edward VII, the first marriage 
of my half-brother, the Prince George, and others, 
and, I further 

Demand of the Houses of Parliament of the 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 
that the legitimacy of the issue of any and all 
marriages contracted by any descendant of George 
III as aforesaid in violation of the provisions 
of the so-called Royal Marriage Act (12 George 
III C. II) shall be duly recognized and recorded 
in the usual manner and that such issue of any 
and all such marriages shall be proclaimed by 
proper authority in their respective order of legit- 
imate lineal succession as to their rightful suc- 
cession to titles and estate according to law, irre- 
spectively as to whether any such marriage may 
have been, or may not have been, set aside by 
Royal Proclamation, or by due process of law; 
I further 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 355 

Demand of the Upper and Lower Houses of 
Parliament that measures be taken forthwith to 
have the said so-called Royal Marriage Act of 
1772 (12 George III C. II) declared to be null and 
void, the same being unconstitutional and invalid, 
in that the said so-called Act is in violation of 
the provisions of the Acts of Parliament and con- 
trary to the provisions of all laws of Church and 
State by which marriages are regulated in the 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; 
and that the Houses of Parliament shall cause the 
said so-called Act of 1772 (12 George III C. II) 
to be expunged from the Statutes and be duly pro- 
claimed by proper authority as having been, from 
the date of its enactment, inoperable, illegal, and 
therefore null and void. 

(Signed) John George Edward Rex 
of 
Great Britain and Ireland. 
106 Montague Street, 

Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A., 
12th May, 1910. 



106 Montague Street, 
Brooklyn, New York* 

10th April, 1910. 
My Dear Father: 

The disquieting reports relative to your health 
cause me great anxiety. 

Through the long years of my life, I have cher- 
ished the hope that you would pay due honor to 
my dear mother before you pass from this life and 



356' Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

that the time might come when you would make 
it possible for my mother and I to be reunited in 
an honorable way, in order that, in the absence of 
her husband's love and protection, her declining 
years might be brightened in some measure by the 
companionship of her son. 

The ties of blood strengthen as advancing age 
brings us nearer to our eternal home and nearer 
to God; and each day the longing of my heart, 
hitherto suppressed, forces itself more and more 
that I may yet be privileged to enjoy some mani- 
festation of your affection and the advantage of 
my father's counsel so long denied me, through 
our sense of duty to the State and Nation. 

Above all personal consideration, however, the 
political crisis through which the nation is now 
passing renders your continued good health of the 
greatest importance to the Empire. 

The uncertainty of life, in my own case as in 
yours; the political struggle in England, and the 
ominous outlook for the future of the Empire and 
of the Monarchy itself, should you be called to our 
fathers at so unfavorable a time, coupled with the 
very painful circumstances under which my 
mother and I have been obliged to live, sacrificing 
our personal interests and happiness in the inter- 
est of our country, and the equivocal position in 
which my mother and I might possibly find our- 
selves should you pass from this life before I shall 
have had an opportunity to bring before Parlia- 
ment certain measures for industrial and economic 
reform in the United Kingdom of Great Britain 
and Ireland, India and the Colonies, and which, 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 357 

authorities agree, will furnish the solution of the 
political problems of the day, have led me to de- 
cide upon the publication of my Memoirs, a rough 
copy of the manuscript of some chapters of which 
I sent to you some time ago. 

For some years past I have, as you are aware, 
endeavored to give the country the benefit of the 
results of my investigation for the improvement 
of the economic conditions and to raise the stand- 
ard of the public health. This I have done without 
giving undue publicity to the identity of the au- 
thor. My efforts to carry out my plans have, I 
believe, met with your approval, in that the moral 
support accorded by you to the same, as in the 
case of my systems for the prevention and treat- 
ment of cancer, which you caused to be forwarded 
to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in Sep- 
tember, 1906. 

This evidence of your good-will, and apprecia- 
tion of my work has strengthened my love for you, 
and has enabled me to meet with fortitude the per- 
secutions to which I have been subjected as a re- 
sult of the political intrigue which has been 
brought to bear against me. Actuated by respect- 
ful consideration for the memory of my revered 
Grandmother, her late Majesty, the Queen, and 
my love and devotion to you and my long-suffer- 
ing mother, supported by my patriotic desire to 
maintain a discreet silence on a subject which so 
directly affects the Constitution of both Church 
and State, I have patiently submitted to false ac- 
cusations, indignities and humiliating experience 
rather than expose and punish my persecutors. 



358 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

This policy is now impossible, for the reason that 
so much publicity has been given to my identity as 
your son that any further evasion of the truth on 
my part can only result in unpleasant comment 
by the "yellow" newspapers in this country. 

When Captain J. Regan called on me in 1894 in 
Rangoon, acting, I understood, in accordance with 
a command of the late Queen, my grandmother, 
with a request that I would not return to England, 
and intimating that if I would go to Australia a 
title would be conferred and an office given suited 
to my rank and birth, I declined the honor for the 
reason that I thought I could come to the United 
States and bury myself as I had done for so many 
years in India. In that opinion I was mistaken 
and I have many times regretted not having 
availed myself of the offer conveyed through 
Captain Regan. 

The indiscretion of the officials in Rangoon in 
having communicated the contents of your private 
letter, as was done to unauthorized persons, led 
to my identity being made known throughout 
Burma, and, on my leaving Rangoon for America, 
missionaries or others must have written the facts 
to this country. In any case, news of my identity 
had preceded me to the United States. It was 
in vain that I evaded all questions of newspaper 
representatives, the story of my identity has been 
repeatedly published throughout this country dur- 
ing the past twelve years. 

The publication of my Memoirs at this time, I 
believe, most opportune, in that the publication of 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 359 

my plans for industrial development in England 
and Ireland, and the formation of Corporations 
to put the same in operation will at once be recog- 
nized as the means for the solution of the economic 
and political questions now perplexing all parties. 

My work will, therefore, benefit the nation and, 
at the same time, may be the means of bringing 
my dear mother some happiness from the knowl- 
edge that I, her son, so long separated from both 
mother and father, have done something for my 
country at a time when such service was most 
needed. 

I trust that you will excuse me, my dear father, 
for thus expressing myself in writing, but as time 
passes without my having an opportunity to put 
these matters to you personally, I have no other 
alternative. 

I pray God that I may have the happiness to pay 
my respects to you in person in the near future 
and that we may enjoy in our maturer years the 
affection and companionship of father and son, of 
son and father, that personal affection and com- 
panionship so long denied to us by the interven- 
tion of a cruel fate. 

Should it not be the will of God that we should 
be so blessed on earth, we knoiv that in a few short 
years at most we will meet with those of our race 
who have gone before, where we will stand equal 
before the King of Kings — father and son, and 
mother! No more will a false and unholy custom 
permit of our separation as in this so-called Chris- 
tian world. 



360 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 

Hoping to hear of your improved health, and 
with expressions of my deep affection, 
I remain. 

My dear father, 

Your dutiful son, 

(Signed) John Guelph. 



Mr. Thomas Dougherty, who had represented 
me in certain matters relative to the publication 
of these Memoirs, being a loyal British subject, 
decided to assume the responsibility of reporting 
to His late Majesty, King Edward VII, the fact 
that I was arranging for the publication of my 
Memoirs. 

He pointed out to His Majesty that the publi- 
cation of this work would inevitably result in a 
revolution, and urged His Majesty to have the 
necessary steps taken to suppress the publication. 
Mr. Dougherty exercised great care to have his 
letter presented to His Majesty with the utmost 
secrecy. 

The letter was written and despatched without 
my knowledge. 

At the time that Mr. Dougherty wrote the above 
mentioned letter he was not aware of the fact 
that I had not only written to my father, King Ed- 
ward, reporting my intention to publish my Me- 
moirs, but that I had also forwarded the manu- 
script of the Summary and first three chapters in 
order that His Majesty might be fully cognizant 
of the nature of the publication and the effect that 
the same would produce in the British Empire. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 361 

Mr. Dougherty was, therefore, much surprised 
upon receiving the letter from Lord Knollys here- 
with reproduced. 

On receipt of the said letter, Mr. Dougherty 
called on me and explained the nature of the 
letter addressed by him to the King and hand- 
ed to me His Majesty's reply, with the remark 
that the said letter was conclusive evidence 




WINDSOR CASTLE. 

26th January 1910. 



Sir, 

I am commanded by The King to 
acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of the 11th inatant, and to express his 
regret that he is unable to assist~you, 
in the matter to which you refer of 
Mr John R.de Guelph. 
I am, Sir, 

Your obedient Servant, 



JLJKO 



T.C.Dougherty Esq. 



that His Majesty not only declined to cause the 
suppression of the publication of my Memoirs, but, 
that the letter having been addressed to him, a dis- 



362 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guclph 

interested party, was a definite acknowledgment of 
my action in publishing my Memoirs to establish 
before the Empire and the world at large my legal 
right as the eldest legitimate son and heir of the 
Sovereign. 

The following letters dated the 12th and 17th 
November, 1902, from the Secretary of State for 
War, are reproduced in order to show : 

1. That as the firm name under which I had 
previously conducted my business, i.e., J. R. 
Guelph-Norman & Co. had been changed on the 
26th June, 1902 (the date set for the Coronation 
of my father), to Guelph & Son, and being aware 
that the Department of His Majesty's Government 
could not enter into business relations with my 
Firm of Guelph without the sanction of the Sover- 
eign, I wrote to my father requesting that he would 
command the War Office to enter into business re- 
lations with me under the name of Guelph. 

2. The letter from the Secretary of State for 
War, dated 12th November, 1902, bears out the 
foregoing rule, in that it will be observed that the 
same is simply an acknowledgment of the receipt 
of said letter, but did not entertain the business 
referred to therein. 

The letter from the Secretary of State for War 
of 17th November, 1902, in reply to the letter ad- 
dressed to His Majesty, the King, it will be ob- 
served, entertained the business therein referred 
to, by the Command of His Majesty, the King. 

The said Command of His Majesty to the De- 
partment to enter into business relations with the 
firm of Guelph & Son has been observed from that 




Showing official and private recognition as the legi 
Prince of the House of Guelph, by the late 
King Edward VII 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 363 

date by the various Departments of the British 
Government. 

WAR OFFICE, LONDON, S.W.. 



I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge' 
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364* Memoirs of Prmce John Dc Guelph 



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Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpli 365 



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addressed to— 


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War Ojfice, 

London, S.W. 

84A/2100. (A.*.) ,,**■ 

II- June, 1907. 

Gentlemen, 

With reference to your letter of the 28th 
ultimo, on the subject of a water penetrating projectile 
I am directed to acquaint you that an interview can be 
afforded on any day between the hours named in your 
letter when if sufficient details are furnished the 
question of the suitability of the invention for 
adoption into His Majesty's Service will.be considered 
under the terms stated in the accompanying Memorandum 
for Inventors. 

It Is not considered necessary for the 
Inventor to bring samples to England at the present 
stage. 

I am to add that no expenses which may be 
Incurred in submittingdetalla, as above, can be 
paid by this Department, and in the absence of details 
It is not possible to consider whether it would be 
desirable to take any special action such as would be 
the authorisation of expenditure in developing the 
invention. 

I am, 



M « 83 ™ ^ el P h * c °" ^ir.etor of Artillery. 

20 Biahopsgate Street Without, 
B.C. 



366 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

GUELPH & SON, BANKERS AND BROKERS, 

London and New York, 
81 New Street, Suit 29-33. 

10th January, 1910. 

To His Majesty, King Edward VII., 
Buckingham Palace, 
London, S. W. 
Sire, 

Permit me to state in further reference to my 
letter dated 4th November last relative to the 
above subject, and the reply thereto by His Ex- 
cellency, the Secretary of State for India, under 
date of 10th December, that in view of the great 
distress existing among the masses of Your 
Majesty's Indian Empire, owing to the unhealthy 
economic conditions, the political unrest conse- 
quent on the long continued depression and pesti- 
lence, and the great need for the more expeditious 
development of the natural resources on more 
equitable lines than observed by existing monopo- 
listic corporations, "rings," and combinations, 
the project referred to in my letter of 4th Novem- 
ber, and previous communications, will be carried 
out by private enterprise in accordance with the 
provisions of the Company Act. A limited lia- 
bility company having been duly incorporated for 
the purpose, the work will be commenced at once. 

I respectfully beg to state that in the interest 
of the nation and of the Empire, I am about to 
have published in the form of a biographical sketch 
of my life, some particulars of the results of my 
researches, and my plans for industrial develop- 



Memoirs of Prince John De GuelpJi 367 

ment and economic reform in the United King- 
dom of Great Britiain and Ireland, and in India. 

My various projects for improving the condi- 
tions of the people and the political position of 
the Empire, having been endorsed by some of the 
highest authorities as the "niost practical," "the 
greatest of public benefactions," and "the very 
thing needed," "the only means whereby the 
country can be saved," and as my efforts to in- 
troduce the said measures and to put the same in 
operation have been quietly, but systematically 
opposed on political grounds, the public being 
thereby deprived of the benefits that would im- 
mediately accrue from the inauguration of said 
operations, I am of opinion that the matter 
should be referred to the people of the United 
Kingdom and of the Empire, that they may judge 
as to whether the peace and welfare of the nation 
should be permitted to suffer, and the safety of the 
Empire be jeopardized through political intrigue 
against an individual, a loyal and faithful sub- 
ject, who has given his life and sacrificed his hap- 
piness to serve his King and his people. 

I enclose for the favor of Your Majesty's 
perusal and consideration the manuscript of the 
biographical sketch, not yet in the press. * * 

I trust that my effort in this direction may meet 
with Your Majesty's approval, and that the publi- 
cation of the book will be for the public good, as 
I have reason to believe it will. 

I beg to assure Your Majesty that it is most 
painful to me to find myself, owing to circum- 
stances over which I had no control, brought so 



368 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

prominently in the public eye, with no alternative 
but to publish my biography in order to give to 
my country that which I have long offered in a 
manner which did not necessitate my being pub- 
licly known in connection therewith. 

I am Your Majesty's most obedient servant, 
(Signed) John E. De Guelph. 

[On pages following will be found photographic 
reproductions of a few messages sent by Prince 
John to his father.] 

London, 9th November, 1906. 
To King Edward VII, 
Sandringham : 
"Accept my filial and dutiful congratulations 
on the sixty-fifth anniversary of Your Majesty's 
sonship of God. May He lengthen your days in 
the interest of peace and the public health. 

(Signed) "John Guelph/' 



London, 25th December, 1906. 
To King Edward VII., 
Sandringham : 
"I rejoice to be in England to-day that our 
prayers and praise in celebrating the anniversary 
of the nativity of the Prince of the House of David 
may ascend as from one heart to Almighty God, 
who giveth the blessing of peace and good will. 
May His peace be with you. Filial love. 

(Signed) "John Guelph/' 



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Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 369 

London, 9th November, 1907. 
To His Majesty, the King, 
Sandringham : 
"Please accept my hearty congratulations on 
this anniversary. My prayer to God is that you 
may be spared to enjoy many of them. Give the 
King Thy judgments, God, and Thy righteous- 
ness unto the King's son. He shall judge Thy 
people with righteousness, and Thy poor with 
judgment. 

(Signed) "John Guelph/ ' 



London, 25th December, 1907. 
To His Majesty, King Edward VIL, 
Sandringham : 
"Please accept my filial greeting and heartiest 
wishes for a happy Christmas. May Almighty 
God sustain and direct you in your efforts to 
hasten the consummation of the object and pur- 
pose of the nativity of Our Lord — 'Peace and 
good-will among men.' It is my privilege to an- 
nounce at this season that Your Majesty's untir- 
ing efforts to stamp out the national scourges of 
cancer and consumption are about to be crowned 
with success through the successful results of ex- 
tensive research and clinical tests of Messrs. Car- 
pender and Guelph. 'The system for the preven- 
tion and cure of these diseases is my Christmas 
offering to my King and Country.' I pray Your 
Majesty's acceptance thereof for the good of the 
Empire. 

(Signed) "John Guelph/' 



370 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



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Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 371 

Fremont, Indiana, 9th Nov., 1908. 
To King Edward, Sandringham : 

"Please accept my dutiful and filial greetings. 
Many happy returns. (Signed) "John Guelph." 

On November 9th, 1909, foreseeing His Maj- 
esty's death, I sent the following cablegram: 




372 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

106 Montague Street, 

Borough of Brooklyn, 
New York City, N. Y., 17th June, 1910. 

My Dear Brother George: 

It has pleased Almighty God to remove our 
father from the Throne and from our midst, at a 
time when the Upper and Lower Houses of Par- 
liament were in the throes of a crisis without 
parallel since the Cromwellian blunder, and the 
Empire again faces a bloody revolution, which, 
should it come, would be followed by the inevitable 
disintegration of the Empire. 

Had our father's life been spared for only a 
brief period the pending catastrophe would un- 
doubtedly have been averted, by the judicious ex- 
ercise of his influence with the contending parties. 
The imminent danger in which the crisis has 
placed the Empire would have led him to temper 
his Sovereign influence with his wisdom, superior 
judgment, and resolute courage in order to bring- 
to a speedy end the turbulent unrest. 

An all-wise Providence, the King of Kings, de- 
creed otherwise; our father and King was not 
privileged to bring about the peaceful issue which 
he so devoutly desired. 

The political crisis continues as acutely as be- 
fore his passing and the turbulent unrest is still 
capable of developing into a bloody revolution. 

Recognizing my duty to my country, as the 
eldest legitimate son of our father, to assist in 
the carrying out of the task of solving the diffi- 
cult problems confronting the Houses of Parlia- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 373 

ment, I submitted to the Prime Minister, under 
date of 19th May, a plan suggesting the establish- 
ment of an Imperial Parliament, as a Supreme 
Parliamentary Council to be composed of Mem- 
bers of both the Upper and Lower Houses of 
Parliament and representing all political parties 
and Kingdoms in the ratio of their respective 
strength in each House ; a copy of which proposi- 
tion was forwarded to you on the same date. 

The seriousness of the present situation calls 
imperiously for immediate and resolute action in 
the interest of peace. Hence, my action in this 
matter. Were I but a private individual, I would 
consider it to be my duty to proffer a similar 
suggestion for the adoption of measures to avert 
the suffering and horrors of a revolution. 

In view of the existing crisis in England, and 
of our relative positions in relation thereto, I deem 
it advisable in the interest of the public welfare 
to place before the people of the United King- 
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, some particu- 
lars concerning my life ; and also an outline of the 
policy for industrial and economic reform as pro- 
posed by me from time to time and encouraged by 
our father, for the purpose of averting the present 
crisis and political unrest in the United Kingdom 
and India. 

In order that the public may understand the 
motive which prompted me to devote my life to 
the service of my country with the object of im- 
proving the condition of the people, I have de- 
cided to include in this open letter to you, a few 
excerpts from my Memoirs, the MS. of which 



374 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

was submitted to our father on the 10th January 
last with the intimation that the same would be 
published at an early date, and to which publica- 
tion he raised no objection. 

The following excerpts from the second chapter 
of my Memoirs (but subsequently eliminated) 
give expression to the natural characterictics 
of race and parentage which have impelled 
me to apply my energies for the emancipa- 
tion of Ireland and India from the deplorable 
effects of our mal-administration of these coun- 
tries, and for the removal of the burden of over- 
taxation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain 
and Ireland, by the introduction of measures for 
industrial development, thereby ensuring the fu- 
ture maintenance of healthy economic conditions, 
and peace and prosperity, in the place of the long- 
continued condition of poverty and political 
unrest : 

"Having been begotten and brought forth into 
being a human mite of potentialities under cir- 
cumstances over which I had no control, I owe no 
apology to my contemporary beings, similarly in- 
troduced into the world, for my advent into life, 
for my royal parentage, my nationality, or for 
the racial characteristics inherited from my par- 
ents, grandparents and remoter ancestors. I 
am but the reincarnation of the spirit of my fore- 
fathers ; and the characteristics transmitted to me 
by my parents and the progenitors of my race 
through succeeding generations constitute the 
dominant factor in the development of my own 
character. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 375 

"From the human mite of potentialities has 
evolved the mature man, and expression is given 
to the characteristics of my race; the manifesta- 
tion of the actualities of the spirit of my progeni- 
tors ; the exercise of the right of man in the world 
of men. 

"The characteristics of race and parentage 
transmitted to offspring are modified by environ- 
ment and confluence with sociological influences 
and by impressions of a physiological and psycho- 
logical nature. The most potent agent, however, 
which an All-wise Creator 'breathed into' man, 
whereby the traits and characteristics inherited 
from parents and ancestors may be modified in the 
life of the offspring, in the super-cosmic conscious- 
ness, the spiritus vitae, the divine WILL, the 
'breath' of life which united the finite with the 
Infinite Being. 

"This great truth was impressed upon my mind 
while yet a child The lessons im- 
parted to me by my foster-mother made a great 
impression upon me, to which I am indebted for 
the strength and fortitude with which I have at 
all times endeavored to meet and overcome the 
difficulties encountered in life, and which not in- 
frequently have seemed to be well nigh insur- 
mountable. 

" 'Always remember,' she was wont to say, 'that 
your father is the greatest man in the land; that 
he must occupy the most exalted station in the 
Kingdom, and that to him the nation must look 
for the maintenance of peace and continued pros- 
perity. It is your duty to profit by the example 



376 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

and experience of your grandmother, the Queen, 
and that of your father and forefathers. It is 
my earnest desire and prayer that you may be- 
come as great a man as is your father. What you 
lose by having been removed from the environ- 
ments of the Eoyal Court, and by having been de- 
prived of the advantages of the education and 
associations consistent with your royal birth, need 
not affect you unfavorably; on the contrary, it 
should prove to be a gain to you in the end. 
Being free from the trammels of Court and State 
and from the restrictions under which Princes of 
the Reigning Dynasty are brought up, you can 
obtain by personal application and by practical 
experience a more thorough training to qualify 
you for the exalted station to which your country 
and your people will some day call you, than you 
would receive under ordinary circumstances.' 
The strong impression thus made upon me in my 
childhood and early youth, coupled with the spirit 
of my ancestors, which latter was sorely wounded 
by the knowledge of the terrible agony of mind 
in which my dear mother was living, inspired me 
to devote my life to the service of my country and 
my people; to subordinate personal interests to 
the interests of humanity. 

"The mental picture of my mother's tortured 
soul was an ever-present appeal to my sensitive 
nature for justice, and spurred me on to what 
might be termed super-human effort to achieve 
something worthy of a Prince of the House of 
Guelph; something of which my dear mother 
might be proud; something of which my country 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 377 

might accept for the good of the Empire as a 
tribute of my devotion to my people under the 
most painful circumstances. It is the inspiration 
which has followed me through life, and which 
has many times saved me from death, which 
prompts me at this time when the Empire is facing 
a bloody revolution which threatens the safety of 
the Constitutional Monarchy and the prosperity 
of the people, to authorize the publication of this 
biography in the hope that by so doing the people 
of the British Empire and of the world at large 
may benefit from the results of my investigations, 
by the adoption of my policy leading to the estab- 
lishment of universal peace 

For sixteen years I have been repeatedly urged 
by friends and others to publish a book giving an 
account of my travels, experiences, and re- 
searches. Such a book, I was assured, would 
bring me a fortune ; and thus furnish capital with 
which to establish some of my projects for the im- 
provement of the condition of the poor, and to 
inaugurate the great movement for economic re- 
form by which alone can be brought about the 
consummation of the object so devoutly desired, 
the establishment of international peace." 

As will be seen from the following extracts from 
my letter of 10th January, 1910, to my father, I 
steadfastly refused to publish my Memoirs dur- 
ing that period. The publication of such a work 
could have only resulted in civil war. The main- 
tenance of peace was my first consideration, no 
matter what the personal sacrifice to myself might 
be. Hence, from the year 1893 up to the month 



378 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

of December, 1909, 1 adhered strictly to the policy 
of putting forward my plans for industrial de- 
velopment and economic reform, and for raising 
the standard of the public health, without bring- 
ing myself prominently before the public as the 
originator of the measures in question: 

' ' In the interest of the nation and of the Empire, 
I am about to have published in the form of a 
biographical sketch of my life, some particulars 
of the results of my researches, and of my plans 
for industrial development and economic reform 
in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and in 
India. 

"My various projects for improving the con- 
dition of the people, and the political position of 
the Empire, having been endorsed by some of the 
highest authorities as being the 'most practical,' 
'the greatest of public benefactions,' 'the very 
thing needed for the salvation of the country,' 
'the only means whereby the country can be 
saved;' and as my efforts to introduce the said 
measures and to put the same in operation have 
been quietly but systematically opposed on politi- 
cal grounds, the public being thereby deprived of 
the benefits that would immediately accrue from 
the inauguration of said operations, I am of opin- 
ion that the matter should be referred to the peo- 
ple of the United Kingdom and of the Empire, that 
they may judge as to whether the peace and wel- 
fare of the nation should be permitted to suffer, 
and the safety of the Empire be jeopardized 
through political intrigue against an individual, a 
loyal and faithful subject, who has given his life 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 379 

and sacrificed his happiness to serve his King 
and his people." 

For many years past I have kept my father ad- 
vised as to my various plans for improving the 
economic conditions, and he was aware that my 
practical experience in various branches of the 
Service, including the Army, Police, Prison Ser- 
vice, Educational Department, and the Anglican 
Church Missions, covering a period of about nine- 
teen years, supplemented by some fifteen years 
of active public work, gave me ample opportunity 
to study, and that I was taking full advantage 
of that opportunity to familiarize myself with the 
political and economic conditions and the needs 
of the people at home and abroad. My father also 
knew that it would have been impossible for me 
or any other member of our family to have bene- 
fited from such an excellent opportunity to inves- 
tigate by actual experience and personal contact 
with the people and their environments, had I 
not been free from the trammels of court eti- 
quette. 

It was only by living the life of the people that 
I was able to familiarize myself with the actual 
conditions of both the rich and the poor, and to 
solve the problem whereby our work-houses may 
be converted into industrial and educational in- 
stitutions, and thus convert the large army of pau- 
pers and criminals into wage-earners and tax- 
payers, and the multitude of beggars into useful 
citizens, to contribute their per capita toward the 
Old Age Pension Fund and the national revenue; 
and thereby reduce the taxation by fifty per cen- 



380 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

turn, and increase the revenue in the same pro- 
portion. 

My investigations were commenced in Ireland 
in the seventies. Three years' study of the 
economic conditions caused me to consider what 
plans could be devised for the relief of that long- 
suffering people. It has been with feelings of 
deep concern that I have watched the painful 
struggle by the people of that country for exist- 
ence since that time, and my inability to help them 
hitherto has caused me much regret. 

I am now taking steps for the development of 
the mineral resources of Ireland and for the resto- 
ration of her manufacturing and other industries. 

So long as Ireland continues an integral part 
of the United Kingdom, it is the imperative duty 
of the Government to protect the commerce of that 
country in the same degree as it is to protect the 
commerce of England, Scotland and Wales. 

This has not been done. The development of 
the mineral resources of Ireland has been handi- 
capped; her manufacturing industries ruined and 
even her agricultural pursuits crippled for many 
years past. 

England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are well 
able to supply the English market, and it is our 
imperative duty to see to it that home industries 
are protected, and domestic trade encouraged and 
supported. 

It is to be regretted that Denmark, through the 
influence of Danish Rule in England, has "cor- 
nered" the English market, and that provisions 
of all kinds are imported from Denmark, while 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 381 

the Irish agriculturists and manufacturers suffer 
in consequence of the Danish invasion of the rights 
of our domestic commerce. 

Public sentiment demands that this evil be reme- 
died by the protection of our domestic trade 
against foreign monoply. 

The emancipation of Ireland from the misery 
and suffering inflicted upon that unhappy country, 
is the first duty of the Government. 

The impoverished condition of Ireland, result- 
ing from centuries of oppression under the feudal 
system of landlordism (changed only in recent 
years by legislation), and its relation as a part of 
the United Kingdom, gives to that country the 
equal right with England to supply the English 
market, and to receive the profits of their industry 
and labor. 

Industrial development and the establishment 
of healthy economic conditions in Ireland, as also 
in India, affords the only solution of the Irish 
question and the political unrest in India. 

I have repeatedly put this matter before the 
proper authorities during the last ten years, and 
our father, as Sovereign of the Kealm, did his 
best, as may be seen from the correspondence, to 
cause my plans to be adopted, and encouraged in 
every way the introduction of the measures in 
question. As a matter of fact operations on the 
above lines were inaugurated, and the same re- 
ceived the warmest support of the press and the 
public, but owing to political intrigue the work 
has been greatly retarded. 

As explained in my letter of 4th November, 1909, 



38£ Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

to our father, a limited liability company was 
registered for the purpose of carrying out the 
project (in 1903). "Arrangements were concluded 
with banks and trust companies to underwrite the 
Company's securities in order to absolutely pro- 
tect shareholders from possible loss. Every share 
of capital was guaranteed by the issuance of gold 
bonds, bearing interest at six per cent, per an- 
num, and held in trust by the trustees for the 
stockholders, and protected by real estate security 
of double the value of the amount of the invest- 
ment, in addition to having the first claim on the 
entire assets of the Company. 

' ' The Corporation had acquired the rights to ir- 
rigation (and both machinery and other assets 
valued at $10,000,000, or double the amount of the 
total Capitalization) preparatory to the inaugura- 
tion of the proposed operation 

"The Corporation in question having taken 
every precaution to safeguard the interests of 
shareholders, and having incurred considerable 
expense for the carrying out of the enterprise 
which all authorities to whom the project was sub- 
mitted declared would double the revenue of dis- 
tricts in which it might operate, in less than ten 

years, was declared to be the ' only 

means whereby India could be saved to the British 
Rule,' contemplated bringing suit against the Sec- 
retary of State for India Foresee- 
ing that any action that might be brought by the 
said Corporation against the Secretary of State 
for India, who had apparently confounded an in- 
dividual, myself, with a duly registered Corpora- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 388 

tion, would inevitably lead to very unpleasant de- 
velopments, involving explanations of the identity 
of the director of the Company who had been thus 
attacked, I caused the matter to be dropped." 

The political intrigue through which this most 
important cause was maliciously interfered with, 
to the detriment of not only the Empire of India 
and its suffering multitudes, but of the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as well, 
has been in operation for many years. 

Under date of 4th February, 1897, 1 addressed a 
letter to the Viceroy and Governor-General in 
India recommending the introduction of certain 
measures to check the threatened epidemic of bu- 
bonic plague in Bombay, which was then only in 
a mild form as compared with later developments. 
I pointed out that unless the measures proposed 
by me were adopted, that the epidemic would con- 
tinue for years and that millions of lives would be 
sacrificed. The Viceroy, following the advice of 
his incompetent medical Council, took the posi- 
tion that there would be no epidemic, declaring 
that the few isolated cases presented no danger 
to the city, and flouted my recommendations 
simply through personal prejudice and jealousy. 
According to the policy followed by him at that 
time, it was better that millions of lives be sacri- 
ficed than that credit should be given to me for 
averting such calamity. The plague continued, 
and according to statistics some eight million lives 
have been thus wantonly sacrificed. 

My plan for the development of the natural re- 
sources of India en modern scientific lines by pri- 



384? Memoir* of Prince John De Gurfph 

vate enterprise supported by the Government by 
means of appropriations to provide for loans to 
encourage such industrial development by indigi- 
nous corporations, to remove the evils of foreign 
monopolies and combination rings, and the loss of 
lives sacrificed by famine, and the political unrest, 
in India, while approved by the highest authorities 
of England and India, and certain of my recom- 
mendations adopted by the Empire, were quietly 
but systematically opposed for the reason that it 
was thought that my growing popularity in India 
might prove to be too powerful to admit of my 
identity being longer concealed as the eldest legiti- 
mate son of our father, and, therefore, the rightful 
successor to the Throne of England, and to the 
Empire of India. It was considered by the princi- 
pals of the political intrigue to be better that India 
should suffer, and that a bloody revolution should 
wrest India from British Rule rather than justice 
should be done to myself and my mother. 

Under date of 25th September. 1906. I for- 
warded to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund 
(of which you were then the President), a memo- 
randum on the Guelpli Sterilization System in 
the treatment of cancer. I also addressed a 
letter to His Majesty the King officially on the 
same date, and forwarded a copy of the said memo- 
randum on the Guelph System for the treatment 
of Cancer. In a letter dated "Buckingham Palace, 
28th September, 1906," the King conveyed his 
thanks to me for having introduced the Guelph 
System, and advised me that he had caused the 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 385 

same to be "Forwarded to the Secretary of the 
Imperial Cancer Research Fund." 

In your presidential address at the annual meet- 
ing of the General Committee in July, 1907, act- 
ing, no doubt, in good faith, you stated that, ''The 
fact that alleged cures are being submitted to im- 
partial tests will, I hope, assure the 

public that everything will be done to take full 
advantage of any means that may be discovered 
to alleviate suffering'' and. again, "It is recog- 
nized that the work is conceived and carried out in 
a liberal spirit; that whatever facts are ascer- 
tained are immediately made known to every one ; 
that our material is freely placed at the disposal 
of all who are qualified to use it to good advan- 
tage; that our staff is not working for its own 
ends, but with a whole-hearted desire to help on 
a solution of the problem. 

"Although many new facts have been ascer- 
tained, they do not as yet justify hopes of a new 
treatment." You expressed the hope that, "The 
public will continue by its sympathy and financial 
assistance to support the work of the Imperial 
Cancer Eesearch Fund, and be willing to exercise 
the patience necessary for prolonged and sys- 
tematic investigation." 

My reason for having submitted the Guelph 
System for the treatment of cancer to my father, 
the King, was because physicians with whom I 
had conferred in London, explained that Dr. 
Basliford would not submit to "impartial tests," 
or to any test at all. anything that I might sub- 
mit to the Imperial Cancer Eesearch Fund. Fp- 



386 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

on my declaring my intention to send the matter 
through the Founder and Patron of the Fund, the 
same gentleman replied that, "The professional 
clique by which the Fund is dominated, would ex- 
ercise its 'professional' prerogative and 'turn 
down' the King with as scant ceremony as would 
be shown to me." Bashford could not afford to 
take any chances on the honors and awards for 
such discovery coming to a son of the King, whose 
popularity might prove to be a little embarrassing 
to the other branch of the family. 

It was, therefore, with a view to ascertaining 
whether or not a public institution of such im- 
portance as the Imperial Cancer Research Fund 
would thus insult the Sovereign, the Patron of 
that Institution, and suppress this matter, thereby 
becoming guilty of the diabolical offence of refus- 
ing to accept a treatment for cancer from which 
disease some millions of lives are wantonly sac- 
rificed each year. 

The Guelph System was suppressed by Dr. 
Bashford ; the matter was not even put up to the 
General Committee. The King was ignored, and 
this important Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 
which assumes the authoritative attitude of a cen- 
tral organization which, as you claimed in your 
address above referred to, has "influenced the 
whole nature of investigation at home and 
abroad," is placed in the ridiculous position of a 
one-man institution, public funds squandered, and 
life sacrificed, reports falsified, the public deceived, 
and asked to "exercise patience," to suffer and die 
by millions per year, victims of a political in- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 387 

trigue against the unfortunate Prince, who has 
spent his life to save victims of this dread disease. 
In order to make this important matter per- 
fectly clear to you and to the public, I must state 
that, having been advised beforehand that my 
system would be suppressed on political grounds, 
i.e., as it was not desired by certain persons at 
Court that I should acquire any popularity, I was 
careful to state in my memorandum that the late 
Reverend George W. Carpender, M.D., (Ann Ar- 
bor, Michigan, '53), for forty years the most noted 
cancer specialist in the United States of America, 
1 'was for years associated with the writer (my- 
self) in the practice of medicine and in scientific 
research, for the perfection of the system of medi- 
cal treatment for cancer and consumption," and 
further that that eminent specialist, who had hun- 
dreds of cases sent to him from every part of the 
country, and even from England, "had the re- 
markable and enviable record of no deaths and 
no return of cancer, and no failures in the hun- 
dreds of cases treated by him. I invited investi- 
gation, and requested that representatives of the 
Imperial Cancer Research Fund should be ap- 
pointed to "watch cases then under treatment in 
the Ladbroke Nursing Homes and at South End. ' ' 
The disease implies unspeakable suffering and a 
most terrible death. Millions of lives are sacri- 
ficed and the governments of the civilized world, 
the medical and all public-spirited people are tak- 
ing full advantage of any means discovered to 
alleviate suffering, and to discover a cure for 
cancer. 



388 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

My father wrote me a second letter on the above 
subject, under date of 23rd October, 1906, express- 
ing his "regret" that he was "unable to do any- 
thing further in the matter." This intimation 
was, of course, intended to convey to me the wish 
of my father that I allow the matter to stand over 
for the time being. 

The foregoing account of this important sub- 
ject speaks for itself. Conservative solicitors, 
however, have not hesitated to state that the same 
would be rejected by the public as incredible. The 
idea that a public institution, supported by public 
funds, in the interest of a matter of such vital im- 
portance as that in which the Imperial Cancer Re- 
search Fund is engaged would suppress all knowl- 
edge of a probable cure submitted to that institu- 
tion by the Founder and Patron of the Fund and 
Sovereign of the Realm certainly justifies such in- 
ference on the part of every intelligent man and 
woman. The following copies of letters from the 
Secretary of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund 
and from Dr. Bashford (the Fund itself) furnish 
irrefutable evidence as to the truth of my state- 
ment that the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 
with its Royal Patrons, its Vice-Presidents com- 
posed of the cream of the United Kingdom, its 
millionaire supporters, and its multitude of sym- 
pathizers is, in reality, a "one-man show," 
— Bashford. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 389 
"imperial cancer research fund 

Examination Hall, 

Victoria Embankment, 
London, W. C, 3rd October, 1906. 
1 ' Sir : I have to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 25th ult., with enclosed memorandum, 
and I have to inform you that it is contrary to the 
practice of the Imperial Cancer Eesearch Fund 
to countenance the application of secret remedies 
[the Guelph Systems are not 'secret remedies,' 
but, like Koch's and other proprietary prepara- 
tions which have been submitted to 'impartial 
tests,' were put forward in accordance with the 
general custom of presenting proprietary prepara- 
tions] the nature of which has not been the sub- 
ject of independent investigation in our labora- 
tories. 

"I have to add that a somewhat similar com- 
munication addressed by you to His Majesty the 
King has been forwarded to tins Office, 
"lam, Sir, 

"Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) "Frederic C. Hallett, 
"Secretary." 

"imperial cancer research fund 

Examination Hall, 

Victoria Embankment, 
London, W. C., July 15th, 1906. 
"Sir: With reference to your letter of the 11th 
inst., I have again perused your previous com- 



390 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

munication and the memorandum accompanying 
them, and I beg to inform you that I am unable to 
take any action in regard to the matter to which 
you draw attention. 

"I am, Sir, 
"Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) "E. F. Bashford." 

To any person of ordinary intelligence reading 
between the lines of the last paragraph of the first 
letter the contempt in which the sovereign au- 
thority of the King is held is most apparent. 

I trust that the foregoing brief outline of the 
measures which I now intend to introduce will 
appeal to my people and to the civilized world as 
being worthy of consideration and support. 

I trust, too, that you will see the advisability 
of accepting this communication in the peaceful 
spirit in which it is tendered to you. 

The peace of the Empire rests with you and the 
British Parliament. I wish to be distinctly under- 
stood, however, that since the death of our father, 
I am no longer under obligations to remain silent 
and inactive; and, further, that in the event of 
yourself, the British Parliament and the people of 
the United Kingdom failing to recognize the jus- 
tice of my position as the rightful heir-at-law of 
our father, the late King Edward VII, and the 
value of the reforms which I intend to introduce 
in the interests of universal peace, it is my inten- 
tion to take such measures as may be necessary 
to enforce the recognition and acceptance of the 
same for the good of the Empire. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guetph 391 

This being a national question, I desire to still 
inscribe myself, notwithstanding forty-nine years 
self-sacrifice on the part of my mother and my- 
self, as 

Your affectionate brother, 

(Signed) John R. and I. 
Domiciled in the United States of 
America, under the title of Prince 
John De Guelph, in which title all 
correspondence should be addressed. 
To His Majesty King George V., 
Buckingham Palace, 

London, S. W., England. 



106 Montague Street, 
Brooklyn, New York, 

* 28th June, 1910. 
The Rt. Hon. Hugh Courtenay F. Luttrell, M.P., 
The House of Commons, 
London, England. 
Dear Sir: 

My attention has been called to the " pointed 
objection" raised by you at a recent hearing of 
the Regency Bill in the House of Commons to the 
clause in which it is stated that, "if the heir-ap- 
parent marries without the Regent's consent the 
marriage shall be null and void." 

The question as asked by you, according to 
press reports, was, "Does not this provision set 
up a direct temptation to enter into a marriage 
knowing it can be lightly set aside afterward? 
lc . . Such a law would be very severe on any poor 



392! Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

girl who might fall in love with her sovereign. 
She would be punished while he goes scot-free." 

I desire to convey to you my sincere thanks for 
the bold stand taken by you as a champion of the 
virtue of England's womanhood and motherhood 
and the rights of legitimate issue of marriages con- 
tracted in accordance with the provisions of the 
several Acts of Parliament and the canonical and 
civil disabilities by which marriages of Kings, 
princes, and peasants are regulated in the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 

The Prime Minister in framing or presenting the 
said Regency Bill was, of course, familiar with the 
provisions of the 12 George III C. II of 1772, 
designated as the Royal Marriage Act. 

It must, therefore, be apparent to any person of 
ordinary intelligence that the clause herein re- 
ferred to was embodied in the said Regency Bill 
for one of two reasons: 

1. That the said Royal Marriage Act (12 
George III C. II) is admitted to be contrary to 
the provisions of all other laws of both Church 
and State, and, therefore, invalid and inoperable, 
as it was so recognized to be by George III, 
George IV, William IV, and also by the ecclesi- 
astical and civil authorities and by the general 
public during the reign of the aforesaid sover- 
eigns, or, 

2. That the same was inserted for the pur- 
pose of testing the sentiment of the British Par- 
liament as at present constituted, and of the 
British public in this twentieth century of ad- 
vanced civilization. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 393 

I have the honor to state that copies of the en- 
closed papers were forwarded to my half-brother, 
known as King George V, to the Prime Minister, 
to the Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, to Hon. David- 
Lloyd-George, and to a number of other Members 
of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament 
some time prior to the framing of the said Re- 
gency Bill. 

I trust that you will give the enclosed papers, 
my Message to the Members of the Houses of Par- 
liament, and "May God Defend the Right," your 
careful consideration and loyal support. 

As intimated in the enclosed documents it is my 
purpose to abolish this diabolical custom of royal 
polygamy. 

Very sincerely yours, 
(Signed) John Edward Wettin-Guelph. 

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM PRINCE JOHN R. 
DE GUELPH TO HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII. 

50 Broadway, New York, 

4th November, 1909. 
To His Majesty King Edward VII, 
Buckingham Palace, 
London, S. W. 
Sire: In view of the political unrest in India, 

I am once more constrained to 

place my services at Your Majesty's command. 

In my communication to you, under date of 12th 
December, 1902, I placed before Your Majesty 
some details of the results of my investigations in 
India, I ventured to assure you 



394 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

that I was prepared to undertake any mission of a 
diplomatic nature in India, Burma, Siam, Japan, 
or China. I advised Your Majesty that the Japa- 
nese Government conferred with me, through a 
Commission, in reference to the political, commer- 
cial and economic conditions in China, Japan, 

Corea, Siam, Burma, India, and Ceylon. 

# # * # * * # 

In 1903, 8th January, I again took the liberty 
to address Your Majesty on the subject of an im- 
proved policy for the administration of India, 
whereby the economic conditions would be ma- 
terially improved, and the political unrest would 
be practically removed. 

Following upon the communication here re- 
ferred to, which was heartily commended by states- 
men, princes, the press and the public throughout 
India, I submitted to the India Office a plan which 
I proposed to carry out in India for the improve- 
ment of the economic and commercial conditions 
in the Indian Empire, on the lines of my proposed 
policy herein referred to, for the extensive devel- 
opment of the natural resources of the country on 
modern scientific lines, by the formation of an 
indigenous corporation, to be controlled and oper- 
ated by local capitalists, to counteract the de- 
plorable effect of existing trusts, or combination 
rings, which render ineffective the efforts of Your 
Majesty's Government to improve the prevailing 
conditions of poverty and distress among Your 
Majesty's subjects in India. 

The said plan was submitted to the late Illius 
A. Timmis, the well known engineer of No. 2 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 395 

Great George Street, Westminster, who, after hav- 
ing made a tour of inspection through India and 
Burma, "heartily approved" of the plan in its 
entirety. 

The plan was also submitted to the press in this 
country. The project was immediately taken up 
by the press throughout India. A few brief ex- 
tracts from editorials of leadings newspapers, 
from letters received from the editor of the lead- 
ing Hindu paper in Calcutta, and from prominent 
bankers and other authorities, will convey to Your 
Majesty some idea of the far-reaching effect that 
the operation of my plan in India must have had in 
removing the political agitation, and restoring 
peace and prosperity throughout the Empire. The 
Armita Bazaar Patrica, under the head of "Glad 
Tidings for India," stated, "The news is too good 
to be believed, but it seems the salvation of India 
is at hand." The project was attributed to Lord 
Curzon, who was then Viceroy of India. The arti- 
cle, as the result of this error, continued, "Lord 
Curzon is the alleged saviour." At the close of 
this article of a column and a half the following 
statement was made, which showed the depth of 
feeling and gratitude manifested by Your 
Majesty's subjects in India at the bare prospect of 
the introduction of measures which they knew 
would forever solve the terrible problem of famine 
in India : ' ' Here we end our meagre account of a 
project which will fill the Indian's heart with 
gladness and hope." 

It was necessary for the Company to remove 
the misunderstanding with reference to the con- 



396 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

nection of Lord Curzon's name with the project. 
When that was done, one of the leading bankers 
in Calcutta wrote, "The press and the public de- 
mand to know to whom India is indebted for this 
project, which means practically the fingering of 
the plague spot in India." The editor of the 
above-named paper wrote, "As soon as we saw an 
account of the project in the Philosophical Journal 
we were led to take immediate notice of it ; we saw 
that it was just what was wanted for the salvation 
of India. We will give our life 's blood for the suc- 
cess of the enterprise." 

A Prince of India wrote, offering the Company 
two thousand acres of land for the purpose of the 
first of the proposed schools of technology. And 
many other offers of cooperation and support were 
sent in to the Company. Bankers wrote that 
"there would be no hitch in raising the entire 
amount of capital required, when once the work 
was launched." As a matter of fact the entire 
allotment of securities promised to the bankers of 
India was reserved before the share lists were 
opened. 

A limited liability company was registered for 
the purpose of carrying out the project. Arrange- 
ments were concluded with banks and trust com- 
panies to underwrite the Company's securities, in 
order to absolutely protect shareholders from pos- 
sible loss. Every share of the capital stock was 
guaranteed by the issuance of a gold bond, carry- 
ing interest at six per cent per annum, and held 
in trust by the trustees for the stockholders, and 
protected by real estate security of double the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 397 

value of the amount of investment, in addition to 
having the first claim on the entire assets of the 
Company. A measure that was deemed advisable 
to meet the contingencies of the possible inter- 
ference with the Company's business through the 
outbreak of war (see facsimile of prospectus). 

The Corporation had acquired the rights of irri- 
gation machinery and other assets preparatory 
to the inauguration of the proposed operations. 
American capital was offered for the financing of 
the enterprise, but was declined for the reason that 
it was considered desirable to employ British 
capital. 

Your Majesty may be surprised to learn that 
when the Corporation in question was all prepared 
to inaugurate the work, the representatives of the 
Corporation in India were visited by local officials, 
who brought such pressure to bear upon the repre- 
sentatives that they were compelled, much against 
their will, to drop out. 

The Corporation in question having taken every 
precaution to safeguard the interests of share- 
holders, and having incurred considerable expense 
for the carrying out o± an enterprise which all 
authorities to whom the project was submitted 
declared would double the revenue of districts in 
which it might operate, in less than ten years, and, 
at the same time, was declared to be the "only 
means whereby India could be saved to the British 
rule, ' ' contemplated bringing suit against the Sec- 
retary of State for India, for this unheard of ac- 
tion against their representatives. 

I subsequently learned that the trouble was the 



398 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

result of some personal feeling against myself. It 
was not deemed wise by certain parties to have me 
identified with so popular an enterprise as that 
which had already caused me to be acclaimed by 
the press throughout the Empire as "The saviour 
of India." Foreseeing that any action that might 
be brought by the said Corporation against Your 
Majesty's Secretary of State for India, who had 
apparently confounded an individual, myself, with 
a duly registered Corporation, would inevitably 
lead to very unpleasant developments involving 
explanations of the identity of the director of the 
Company who had been thus attached, I caused the 
matter to be dropped. 

I have no hesitation in saying that the action 
of the officials in India in having opposed the in- 
auguration of this most worthy enterprise, which, 
in the words of a prominent banker and the press 
of all India, "Had been received with open arms 
by all classes and all communities," has played a 
very important part in the rapid development of 
the "terrorist" activities referred to at the be- 
ginning of this letter. 

It is most regrettable that any personal feeling 
against an individual should be permitted to inter- 
fere in any way with a matter of such far-reaching 
political importance as the subject herein re- 
ferred to! 

When in London in 1907 I addressed His Ex- 
cellency, the Secretary of State for India, on the 
subject of the activity of the socialist party in 
India, offering to render Your Majesty's Govern- 
ment such service as my intimate knowledge of the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 399 

situation there would enable me to do. I regret 
to have to state that my loyalty to Your Majesty's 
person and throne was not appreciated as I had 
hoped it would have been; presumably for the 
same reason that my previous efforts to serve Your 
Majesty have been opposed by a narrow and short- 
sighted administration, which is responsible for 
much of the political unrest in Your Majesty's 
Indian Empire. 

If Your Majesty will do me the honor to com- 
mand that I may be permitted to serve Your 
Majesty's Government and the Public Service, by 
the carrying out of my plans for the improvement 
of the economic conditions in India and for the 
peaceful adjustment of the present political dis- 
turbances throughout the Empire, in such capacity 
as Your Majesty may be pleased to command, I 
beg to assure you that the opinions expressed by so 
many authorities will be substantiated in every 
particular, and that the troublesome events, and 
the long continued unrest in India will be rapidly 
overcome and peace and prosperity firmly es- 
tablished. 

If for any reason Your Majesty should deem it 
inadvisable that I should personally be identified 
with the active work, or in the actual carrying out 
of the proposed improvements, I shall be happy 
to arrange my plans for the industrial develop- 
ment of India, and to submit my suggestions for 
the future policy for the better administration of 
Your Majesty's Indian Empire, in such manner 
that the same may be carried out in such manner 
as Your Majesty may approve. As stated before, 



400 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

I am indifferent as to receiving personal honors, 
my life lias been devoted to, and my investigations 
conducted in, the entire interest of Your Majesty 
and the British Empire. 

I pray that my services and loyal devotion to 
your Majesty's person and to the Throne may be 
acceptable. 

I am Your Majesty's Most Obedient Servant, 
John R. De Guelph. 



J 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 401 



ptringency in the meat 
faliure, can affect die i 
And, lastly, because I 



Repre*entatn« men ot Great Britain, Aaeria • 
•Alii will shortly be added to Ac already effiri. 
Board. " ..''•' 



: profitable enterprises I 




America and British Columbia with India and 
porta of call' has been sanctioned Also lor the 
Coast Trade in Asia. 
The first steamer, the " Saotidah," will sail as 



Thelims-CoNTiNEirTAi. ajtoPen- 
ntstjUAR CoHUzaoAL Company. 
Limited, was organized as the re- 
i Europe, America 



between Great Britain and the 
United States with Asia. 

The originator of the plans to be carried out by 
the Company has had an experience 
twenty-four years in the Asiatic tra 
He is a man thoroughly familiar wit! 
c-i Asia, their customs and manners, i 
s;uage and commerce. The project a 
leading authorities of Europe and As 




of Shlpo. 


Maritime Agency, 150 


Le&denhal] 




Street, London, E. C England, 


have been 


appointed again to secure 


charter on 




■ the Company. 






The ccnsrrcctlon of 6>e rice mills 


Rice Ullla. has ben sanctioned and will be 




proceeded with at the t 


arlkstpos- 


sible date. 


Three in Burma and two 


m Bengal 


Others v»i 


U be edded a= needed. 




The De- 


p^Qu of twisting fuUa are 1 




cent to l: 


■0 per cent per annum OS 


nivestmenL 



These will be exterid'.d to ( 
occasion demands. 

TimJit Sucd.:i Laul Mfssrr, i 



:at beggars description. 

The general agents of the Com- 
farming pany in India, Messrs. Guelph & 

Colonics end Son, are engaged in securing large 
Institutes of tracts of land by lease and pur- 
Technology. ^^ for ^ ptir p 0Se of farmingi 
milling and manufacturing. Farm- 
ing colonies and institutes of technology will be 
established on a practical basis. Existing colonies 
are conducted at a great profit 
Lands will be leased and sub-leased to' farmers 



tion with the of.iccrs of the Company. 

The British Government 
Irrigation. trcduced extrusive system 



The Compel 
agreement • 



tivate long-stapled cot- 



frequency of famine. The mo:t elaborate of these 
sjriems beinp the Ganges Canal with its branches, 
and the canal system of the odtas of the rivers 
Mahanadi, Gcdaviri. ICriihna. and Kaveri. The 
five rivers of ftc Punjab have also their great 
canals, and the Indur. is la Sind what the Nile il 



Britiih Government of $I7V 



ton. The general agents 
ence with the leading cotton centers of 
with a view to furnishing long-stapled cot 
which there is an increasing demand. 

The Company is arranging 
Modern introduction of modern m; 

Machinery .^nd farming implements 
•nd Methods development of the agrii 
to be Intro- manufacturing and mining 
duced In tries in India, The sam, 

India. sold, leased or hired for 



land in the Punjab have been irri- 
gsted and colonized through the 
Chenab Canal, at a cost of $3 P*' 



4021 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



lit is requested that in any further com- 
munication on this subject the under-men- 
tioned letter and number may be quoted, and 
the reply addressed to the Under Secretary 
of State of India, 

India Office, 

Whitehall, 

London, S. W. 
J. & P. 4490. 



India Office, 

Whitehall, 

London, S. W., 
December 10th, 1909. 

Sir : I am directed by the Secretary of State for 
India to inform you that your Petition dated 4th 
November last has been laid before the King and 
that His Majesty was not pleased to issue any 
commands thereon. 

I am, Sir, 

Your Obedient Servant, 

R. Ritchie. 
John R. De Guelph. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 400 

THE LADBROKE NURSING ASSOCIATION AND HOMES, 

111 Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington, 

London, "W., and 6, Royal Terrace, 

Southend-on-Sea. 

September 25th, 1906. 

To His Majesty, Edward VII., 

King of Great Britain and Ireland, etc., 
Buckingham Palace, S. W. 

Sire: I beg to address Your Majesty as the 
founder and patron of the Edward VII Sanato- 
rium for Consumptives, and to invite Your Maj- 
esty's attention to the arrangements recently made 
by the Red Cross Army Medical Corps of the Royal 
Asiatic Academy of Science, for the admission and 
treatment of cases of consumption and cancer, in 
the Ladbroke Nursing Homes in London, and at 
Southend-on-Sea. Cancer cases will be received in 
the London Home, at 111 Ladbroke Grove, North 
Kensington, W. ; and consumptives, in most cases, 
at the Home at Southend-on-Sea, Essex. 

The system of treatment to be followed is the 
''Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and Con- 
sumption," adopted by the Medical Department 
of the R. A. A. S. some years ago in America, and 
which has been attended with most successful and 
indisputable results. 

It is now intended to introduce the "Guelph 
Sterilization Cure for Cancer and Consumption, " 
in all the large centers of Europe, Asia and 
America, and to appoint Medical Officers and Sani- 
tary Commissioners to cooperate, as far as possi- 
ble with the Government and municipal authorities 



404? Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

in combating the aforesaid diseases and in all mat- 
ters governing the public health. 

For myself, personally, I could wish for no 
greater honor than the privilege of offering to my 
king and country the fruits of my life 's study and 
research during my wanderings in Asia and other 
lands; and thus, at last, have the honor of con- 
tributing in some measure toward stamping out 
the national scourge — the "White Plague." 

The amelioration of the suffering of my coun- 
try would be ample reward for the years of my 
voluntary exile and the loss of all that life holds 
dear — home. 

I gladly bury my personality in a public insti- 
tution in order to better serve the public interest 
and so fulfill my obligation and duty to my King 
and nation. 

I would, therefore, beg that Your Majesty may 
be pleased to favorably consider this communica- 
tion and the enclosed paper on the subject of the 
adoption of the "Guelph Sterilization Cure for 
Cancer and Consumption," and that Your Majesty 
may be pleased to have the same forwarded to the 
management of the "Edward VII Sanatorium for 
Consumptives," for their information and to in- 
vite the management to avail themselves of the 
advantages offered by the "Guelph Sterilization 
System in the treatment of Consumption." 

It will afford me great pleasure to attend per- 
sonally to any cases in the Edward VII. Santorium 
for Consumptives or other Institutions and to re- 
ceive cases for treatment in the Ladbroke Nursing 
Homes. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 405 

I beg to point out the fact that it is not intended 
to disclose the details of the " Guelph Sterilization 
Cure for Cancer and Consumption" at this time, it 
being the purpose of the Academy to compete for 
various awards offered for any discovery for the 
cure of cancer and for the cure of consumption. 

When the merit of the Guelph Sterilization Sys- 
tem shall have been recognized, which recogniza- 
tion is inevitable, the awards that may be received 
will be devoted to the establishment of other in- 
stitutions for the benefit of the public in general 
and of the sick poor in particular. It should be 
stated that the "Guelph Sterilization Cure for 
Cancer and Consumption" was adopted by the 
Academy as a result of many years of investiga- 
tion and clinical experience in Europe, Asia and 
America, during which period hundreds of cases 
of cancer have been cured without the knife, with- 
out a death, without a return of cancer and without 
a failure. 

The ' ' Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and 
Consumption" consists of a graduated system of 
internal and external hygienic medication, selected 
from the Occidental and Oriental Schools of 
Medicine. 

The internal treatment for both cancer and con- 
sumption is comprised of vegetable compounds, 
the ingredients of which were selected chiefly from 
the ancient Sanskrit Medical authorities of India 
and at the present time are unobtainable in 
England. 

The result of observation and clinical experi- 
ence, covering a period of 25 years, has established 



406 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the fact that the physiological and therapeutic ac- 
tion of the vegetable compound renders sterile 
pathological germs, fungi, bacteria, tubercle, 
baccilli, etc. 

In the pretubercle stage of consumption, the 
tubercle bacilli are aborted, and the disease ar- 
rested in the early stages. 

In the advanced stages of tubercle, cancer, or 
other malignant growth, the physiological and 
therapeutic action of the compounds is directed 
to the pathological tissue, and the baccilli bacteria, 
cancer cells, etc., are rendered sterile and inopera- 
tive. The pathological tissue separates from the 
healthy tissue, and the healing process is aided 
by the creative action of the medicine on healthy 
tissue. 

From the foregoing it will be observed that the 
"Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and Con- 
sumption" is specific in both the prevention and 
cure of cancer, consumption, catarrhal affections 
and other scrofulous diseases. 

The external treatment by the "Guelph Sterili- 
zation" system, for the removal of cancer and 
other malignant growths has been rendered prac- 
tically painless, and, as in the internal treatment, 
renders the cancerous growth sterile. 

The cancer cells being drawn from the blood 
are absorbed by the parent cancer during the proc- 
ess of sterilization, with which they are rendered 
abortive, and in from three to five days is then 
lifted out bodily from its nest without inconveni- 
ence to the patient, or is allowed to slough itself 
off, according to the nature of the growth. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 407 

The healing process is rapid, as all cancer cells 
having been removed the danger of return of can- 
cer is practically eliminated. 

In conclusion I beg to enclose a copy of a paper 
on the adoption of the ' ' Guelph Sterilization cure 
for Cancer and Consumption, ' ' from which it will 
be observed that the system of treatment is based 
on rational hygienic medication, to aid and assist 
nature in its remedial effort: and is opposed to 
surgical operation for the removal of cancer, by 
which operation the cancer cells are diffused 
through the blood, and, later manifest in return of 
cancer, or are forced back upon the lungs or other 
vital organ. The Guelph Sterilization System, it 
will be seen, is also opposed to inoculation of 
serums, anti-toxins and other measures, such as 
vaccination, whereby the virus of Kine-pox or 
other diseased germs are forced into the blood to 
manifest at a later date, in an aggravated form 
of consumption, or other scrofulous diseases. 

Trusting that Your Majesty may be graciously 
pleased to have this matter brought to the notice 
of the "Edward VII Sanatorium for Consump- 
tives" and before the health department of your 
Majesty's government, for the purpose of having 
the "Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and 
Consumption" adopted by the Sanatorium, and by 
Your Majesty's Government. 

I beg to remain, Sire, 
Your Majesty's Most Obedient Servant, 
(Signed) Jno. R. Guelph-Norman, M.D., 

Medical Director, R. C. A. M. C. 



408 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



ftr BUCKINGHAM PALACE. 

Tne Private Secretary is commanded by 
The. King to thank Ur J.R.G.'Tornan for his 
letter of tne 25tn Inst: on tne subject 
of the Guelph Sterilization Cure for 
Cancer and Consunption which has been 
forwarded to the secretary of tne Cancer 
Kesearcn Fund. 

28th September 1906. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 409 



IMPERIAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND. 



Patron. 
H1S_,MAJESTY THE KINCT. 



HRH. THE PRINCE OF WALES. 

Vice- President!. 

LORD LISTER. LORD STRATHCONA 4 MOUNT ROYAL, CC.M.C. 

RIGHT HON. A. J. BALFOUR. M.P. SIR WILLIAM BROADBENT, Bakt , K.C.V.O.. 

SIR JULIUS WERNHER, Bast. Mr. H. L. BISCHOFFSHEIM. Mr. W. WALDORF ASTOR. 

:i„enr, Tramtnr . •_ M R. HENRY MORRIS. Sttrttar, i-M*. FREDERIC C. HALLETT." 



Cirxral SutcrtrU.nJtM ■>/ f!i,tar,J, a*J , 
Dtrtdor of l/u Central Laboratory :— j 



Dr. E. F. BASHFORD 

Ofitr of lit Fmd ■— 

EXAMINATION HALL, 



VICTORIA EMBANKMENT 

LONDON. W.C 



Sir, 

I have to' acknowledge Xhe receipt' of your letter of the 25th. 
ult., and enclosed memorandum,, and I have to Inform you that It 
Is contrary to the practioe of the Imperial Cancer Researoh Fund 
to count enanoe. the application of secret remedies, the nature of 
nhioh has not been the subject of . independent investigation in 
our laboratories. 

I have to add that a somewhat similar cospunic&tioii addroese^ 
hy you to His Majesty the King has been forwarded to tills Office. 
I am. Sir, 

Yours faithfully. 






Jh^ 



Seoretary, 
J.R. Guelph Norman, Esq. M.D. 



410 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

111 Ladbroke Grove, 
North Kensington, W., 
21st October, 1906. 
To His Majesty, the King, 

Buckingham Palace. 

Sire: I beg to thank Your Majesty for having 
caused my communication of 25th ultimo, relative 
to the Guelph rational system of treatment and 
prevention of cancer and consumption to be for- 
warded to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund 
for investigation. 

It is with profound regret that I have to ap- 
prise you of the contempt in which Your Majesty's 
pleasure is held by a professionalism as prejudiced 
and bigoted as in the days when the illustrious 
Harvey was its victim. 

I had watched with great interest and pride 
Your Majesty's attitude toward the amelioration 
of suffering; and the active measures introduced 
in past years, by your command, for the reduction 
of the terrible death roll of over five million per 
annum from consumption alone. 

The organization of the League of Mercy, the 
Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the King Edward 
VII Sanatorium for consumptives, and other insti- 
tutions, under Your Majesty's patronage, define 
not only the policy for the good of the Empire, 
adopted by Your Majesty as the principal feature 
of your reign, but a heart full of sympathy for 
suffering humanity — a reign to be marked by the 
introduction of measures for the prevention and 
cure of the scourge of cancer and consumption, 
an example deserving of the attention and con- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 411 

sideration of every medical man in the world ; and 
a policy that should demand and command the 
support, cooperation and dutiful service of every 
subject in Your Majesty's Empire. 

The contemptuous manner in which Your 
Majesty's action in the present matter was treated 
by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, shows but 
too plainly that bigoted professional prerogative 
will assert itself even in the twentieth century as 
high-handedly as in the dark ages — no matter if 
the King command, or the death rate be five times 
five million a year. 

In bringing to the notice of Your Majesty the 
results of some twenty-five years' research con- 
ducted in various parts of the world, I was sure 
of the favorable consideration shown by you, and 
I had hoped that Your Majesty's exalted position, 
if no other qualification, would command the at- 
tention of an investigation by the department or 
public body to which you might refer the matter. 

I had been prepared by professional brethren 
for some opposition from organizations. 

It had also been intimated to me that Your 
Majesty "is entirely in the hands" of the same. 

In my communication addressed to the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund I introduced the subject 
of the Guelph system for the prevention and treat- 
ment of cancer and consumption. I was aware 
that the rational hygienic medical system in ques- 
tion is opposed to much of the line of research be- 
ing followed by that body. I was fully sensible 
of the fact that in criticizing the line of research 
as the line of action that will cause rather than 



412 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

prevent and cure cancer, I was challenging the 
most "eminent" medical men in the world to in- 
vestigate the Guelph System, against which bias 
and prejudice would be the principal and only 
witness. 

After a successful clinical experience of many 
years by myself and the late Medical Director of 
the Institution which I have the honor to repre- 
sent, the Rev. Geo. W. Carpender, M.D., I knew 
that the only safety to the traditional prejudice of 
that body was to refuse to investigate my Guelph 
System. Hence I desired to present the subject 
to Your Majesty, that you might insist upon just 
investigation — not that I am personally anxious 
for further publicity, but for the good of the na- 
tion — and of the world! 

The reply of the Secretary of the Imperial Can- 
cer Research Fund, was as follows : 

"and I am to inform you that it is contrary to the 
practice of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund to 
countenance the application of secret remedies, the 
nature of which has not been the subject of inde- 
pendent investigation in our laboratories. I am 
to add that a somewhat similar communication ad- 
dressed by you to His Majesty, the King, has been 
forwarded to this office. 

"Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) Fkederic G. Hallett, 
' ' Secretary. ' ' 

Here it is observed that a strong and influential 
body of medical men take shelter under the pres- 
tige of their King as the "patron" of the body, 
and of H. R. H., the Prince of Wales, as presi- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 413 

dent thereof, whose exalted position and personal 
feelings and intelligence they do not hesitate to 
ignore and insult by a cnrt refusal to consider or 
respect the vote or suggestion of their King when 
His Majesty's intelligence and humanity is op- 
posed to their prejudices. Care has apparently 
been taken to safe-guard the professional element 
from the exposure of their ignorance by the official 
or non-official action of their "Patron," the King, 
or their "President," who are thereby placed in a 
most unenviable light before the great body of 
medical men of every civilized country. 

So long as one of the most important medical 
research organizations in the country shall be per- 
mitted to ignore or refuse to "countenance" the 
research of independent medical men, and to dis- 
miss an important communication forwarded to 
that body by Your Majesty's command, in the curt 
manner shown herein, so long will Your Majesty's 
efforts to stamp out this dread disease of cancer 
and consumption be in vain. 

The plausible excuse presented by the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund is inconsistent with the 
general practice, I believe, as I am of the opinion 
that various "secret remedies," such as serums 
and other proprietary preparations are made the 
"subject of independent investigation in their own 
laboratories." 

The Guelph system is a proprietary one, and is 
open to the same independent investigation by 
any scientific body, under fair conditions. 

The actual details of the process of preparation 
will be withheld from a prejudiced profession at 



414 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

least until the matter of awards shall have been 
settled. 

The Guelph Sanatoria will control the remedies. 

In conclusion I beg to state that the Guelph 
Sanatoria, now being established, will arrange to 
treat cases of consumption and cancer in other 
medical institutions, the first of which are the 
Ladbroke Nursing Homes. 

If Your Majesty will cause this matter to be 
brought to the notice of your Sanatorium for con- 
sumptives, and to the civil and military medical 
departments for investigation, the prevention and 
cure of cancer and consumption in Your Majesty's 
Empire will speedily become an accomplished 
fact, as has been established by absolute clinical 
experience elsewhere. 

I am Your Majesty's 

Most Obedient and Faithful Servant, 

(Signed) Jno. R. Guelph-Norman, M.D. 

Medical Director Royal Academy of Science. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guclph 4il5 
BUCKINGHAM PALACE 







^3 &*7?U) ty& 



416 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

47 Victoria Street, 

Westminster, 
London, S. W., 11th July, 1907. 

To Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 
Examination Hall, 

Victoria Embankment, 
London, E. C. 
Gentlemen : 

On the 25th of September, 1906, I addressed a 
letter to the Imperial Research Fund, and en- 
closed a memorandum on the subject of the 
Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and Con- 
sumption. A similar communication treating on 
the same subject was forwarded to your office by 
the command of His Majesty, the King, on or 
about the 26th of September. 

In your reply to the above mentioned communi- 
cation, under date of 3rd October, 1906, you were 
good enough to inform me that "it is contrary to 
the practice of the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund to countenance the application of secret 
remedies, the nature of which has not been the 
subject of independent investigation in our 
laboratories." 

I beg to point out that in inviting the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund to cooperate with the 
Guelph Sanatoria "in advancing the rational 
medical treatment of the diseases named (cancer 
and consumption), in the interest of the public 
health, I was fully sensible of the fact that the med- 
ical profession can not countenance the application 
of "secret remedies" and was careful to explain 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 417 

in said communication that the Guelph System of 
treatment was introduced for the consideration 
of His Majesty, the King, and of the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund as the result of many years 
of independent investigation and clinical experi- 
ence in the treatment of cancer in the private 
practice of a qualified medical man, in a strictly 
professional and ethical manner. The successful 
results obtained in the treatment of several hun- 
dred cases of cancer I pointed out in my memo- 
randum, viz, that in a practice of over forty years 
there were "no failures" "no deaths," and "no 
return of cancer" among the cases treated, the 
cases being kept under observation as much as 
possible for some years after treatment. 

Under date of 3rd November, 1906, I again 
urged the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, "in 
the cause of humanity," to "at least condescend 
to watch cases that may be treated in the Guelph 
Sanatoria about to be established, even though 
the Fund may not see its way to make the Guelph 
System of treatment the subject of independent 
investigation in the laboratories of the Fund, as 
I understood has been done with other proprietary 
preparations in their laboratories." 

No answer having been received to the above 
appeal, I refrained from further correspondence 
on the subject. 

The recently published report of the General 
Committee of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund 
is, however, so misleading to the general public 
and more particularly so to the thousands of vie- 



418 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

tims of cancer, that I am compelled to take ex- 
ception to certain statements made therein. 
1. — The report of the General Superintendent and 
the Presidential address of His Royal High- 
ness, the Prince of Wales, state that impartial 
tests have been made of alleged cancer cures, 
and that no curative value can be attached to 
any of them. 
2. — That so far there is "nothing to justify the 
hopes of a new treatment." Reference is made 
to full advantage being taken of any means that 
may be discovered for the alleviation of suffer- 
ing, etc. 

The empirical attitude of the Imperial Cancer 
Research Fund in presuming to brand the results 
of investigations conducted by private practi- 
tioners as "so-called cures," "alleged cures," 
etc,, and in assuming to be the central and only 
authority on the nature of and treatment for can- 
cer — of which the Fund confesses it knows noth- 
ing, involves a grave responsibility. 

The responsibility for the loss of many thou- 
sand lives annually from a curable disease, and 
from a preventable disease. 

The only inference to be drawn from your re- 
port by the public is : 

1. — That the Fund is the official and only au- 
thority on cancer. 

2. — That physicians throughout the world who are 
engaged in the study of cancer submit the re- 
sults of their investigations to the Fund. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 419 

3. — That nothing so far is known of the nature of 
or treatment for cancer. 



4. — That publicity given to any treatment for this 
disease is to be discredited, unless it bears the 
"hall mark" of the Fund. 

Under the above circumstances, and considering 
the appalling mortality from cancer and the rapid 
increase in the number of cases, I am once more 
impelled to ask the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund to submit to "impartial tests" by practical 
clinical application to cancer in the human being, 
the Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and Con- 
sumption. 

The Guelph System is not a "secret" remedy, 
but it is an ethical proprietary remedy of a nature 
such as is in regular use by the medical profes- 
sion in all civilized lands. The only protection 
asked for is the protection of "proprietary 
rights," as is usual in such cases. 

The investigation asked for and required for 
this established system of treatment in the preven- 
tion cure of cancer is the practical application of 
the remedy to cancer in the human being, in which 
cases the results are irrefutable — a cure in every 
case. 

Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) Jno. R. Guelph-Norman, M.D., 

Medical Director, Guelph Sanatoria. 
Ladbroke Nursing Home, 



420 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

111 Ladbroke Grove, W. 
3rd November, 1906. 

To the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 
Examination Hall, 

Victoria Embankment. 
Gentlemen : 

In further reference to my letter of 25th Sep- 
tember, and enclosed memorandum, on the subject 
of the ' ' Guelph Sterilization Cure for Cancer and 
Consumption," I have the honor to state that since 
the receipt of your reply thereto, I have received 
the thanks of His Majesty, the King, for having 
introduced the Guelph rational system for the pre- 
vention and cure of cancer and consumption. I 
have also been advised that the communication 
addressed by me to the King had been forwarded, 
by His Majesty's command, to the Secretary of 
the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. 

It was, therefore, a matter of surprise and re- 
gret to me that a communication of such vital im- 
portance to the public health and in the saving of 
life referred to the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund by His Majesty, the King, who is also 
patron of the Fund, should have been dismissed 
by the Fund without any attempt whatever to in- 
vestigate its merits. 

I find, from your letter of 3rd ultimo, that I have 
been laboring under a grave misapprehension as 
to the purpose for which the Fund was formed, 
and I believe that His Majesty, the King, patron 
.of the Fund, H.R.H., the Prince of Wales, Presi- 
dent of the Fund, and other influential supporters 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 421 

of the Fund are victims of the same misunder- 
standing. 

That His Majesty, the King, as patron of the 
Fund, should have been graciously pleased to have 
caused the attention of the Imperial Cancer Re- 
search Fund to be called to the Guelph rational 
system for the prevention and cure of cancer and 
consumption, in the interest of His Majesty's 
people, knowing that it is contrary to the practice 
of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund to coun- 
tenance such applications, or the researches of in- 
dependent medical men, and that neither the 
King's pleasure, his exalted rank, nor his official 
and personal connection with the Fund would be 
respected or considered in a matter of such mo- 
ment, shows on one hand, His Majesty's great in- 
terest in and sympathy for his people, in that he 
was willing to risk the reproof of the conserva- 
tive professional element dominating the Fund 
under His Majesty's patronage. 

On the other hand, which, I think, is apparent, 
His Majesty was under the impression that the 
Fund was formed and is supported by public sub- 
scription, for the purpose of liberal and unpreju- 
diced investigation and research into the nature 
of and treatment for cancer. 

Second, that said investigations would not be 
limited to the researches, experiments and experi- 
ence of the few medical men who are members 
of the Fund, but that the results of the researches 
of any medical man, or other person, in the 
furtherance of the objects of the Fund, would be 
entitled to courteous consideration, and, if the 



423 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

same gave evidence of any apparent value, should 
be made "the subject of independent investiga- 
tion in the laboratories of the Imperial Cancer 
Research Fund." 

I would state that from inquiries I believe that 
the above opinion is that of the general public. 

The attitude of the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund in having ignored the King's desire to es- 
tablish the merit of the Guelph system for the pre- 
vention and cure for cancer and consumption, 
without so much as making it a matter for the in- 
dependent investigation in your own laboratories, 
is the more remarkable when the statement of the 
General Superintendent of Research and Director 
of the Central Laboratory in his fourth annual 
report before the Executive Committee of the 
Imperial Cancer Research Fund, is considered. 

He there states that attention had been given 
to the examination of various so-called "cancer 
cures," which had appeared from time to time in 
the public press. 

The action of the General Superintendent of 
Research in examining into the merits of what he 
styles "so-called cancer cures," and refusing to 
investigate the bonafide results of the researches 
of independent medical men when the same are 
presented through the regular course by the dis- 
coverer, and subsequently sent to the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund by His Majesty, the King, 
and Patron of the Fund, is, to my mind, incom- 
prehensible. 

I beg to state that I brought this subject to the 
notice of His Majesty, the King, and sought the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 423 

cooperation of the Imperial Research Fund, with 
a view to the speedy reduction of the enormous 
death rate from consumption (five millions per 
annum) and the present rapidly increasing mor- 
tality from cancer. 

The interest shown by His Majesty, the King, 
both in his letter of thanks to myself and in com- 
manding that the subject of the Guelph System 
of cure for the above diseases should be brought 
to the notice of the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund is most commendable, and characteristic of 
his superior intelligence and judgment, and sym- 
pathy for his people. 

The attitude of the Imperial Cancer Research 
Fund, on the other hand, is most regrettable. 

In conclusion I would state for the information 
of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, that in 
addition to the reception of cases of cancer and 
consumption in the Ladbroke Nursing Homes in 
London and at Southend-on-Sea, for treatment 
by the Guelph System, it is intended to establish, 
as rapidly as possible, institutions at various cen- 
ters throughout the United Kingdom, the conti- 
nent of Europe, Canada, the United States of 
America, Asia and Australasia for the introduc- 
tion of this treatment (the necessary funds for 
which will be furnished by a physician who comes 
of a family many members of which have died 
from cancer, and who, himself, was cured of can- 
cer six years ago — having had a cancer removed 
from the neck by the Guelph Sterilization Cure 
for Cancer, without a return of the disease. It 
may be here mentioned that t«he hereditary disease 



424 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

in the family of the medical man in question in- 
variably shows itself in the neck and throat.) 

I trust that in the cause of humanity, the Im- 
perial Cancer Research Fund will at least con- 
descend to watch cases treated in the Guelph 
Sanatoria about to be established, even though the 
Fund may not see its way to make the Guelph 
System of treatment the subject of independent 
investigation in the laboratories of the Fund, as 
I understand from the Superintendent's report, al- 
ready quoted, has been done with other proprie- 
tary preparations in their laboratories. 

I feel it my duty to state in the interest of the 
medical profession and the public health that from 
my experience and researches throughout the 
world during the past quarter of a century, and 
from the successful clinical results of my prac- 
tice and the results of the practice during the 
past forty years of my colleague and partner, 
the late Rev. Geo. W. Carpender, M.D. (Ann Ar- 
bor, Michigan, '53) — the noted specialist for can- 
cer — a more general knowledge of the Guelph 
System throughout the British Empire will mark 
His Majesty's reign by the conquest of the scourge 
of the earth — cancer and consumption. On the 
other hand the lack of cooperation or a manifesta- 
tion of primitive professional jealousies and pre- 
judices may prolong, for a brief season only, the 
sacrifice of human lives. 

Then, as in the case of the late Emperor 
Frederick of Germany and Sir Morell Mackenzie 
and his persecutors, the awakening will come, and 
the present system of human sacrifice to tradi- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 425 

tional and conservative medical bigotry will be a 
thing of the past, and, as in all history, the oppo- 
nents to rational and intelligent progress will be 
buried in oblivion. 

Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) Jno. R. Guelph-Nokmtan, M.D., 

Medical Director, Guelph Sanatoria. 

IMPERIAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND,. 



HIS MAJESTY THE KING. 

President. 

H.R.'H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. 

Vice-Presidents. 

LORD LISTER. LORD STRATHCONA 4 MOUNT ROYAL, ■ CVC.M.G. 

RIGHT HON. A. J. BALFOUR. M.P. SIR WILLIAM BROADBENT, Bart., K.C.V.Oi 

SIR JULIUS WERNHER, Bart. Mr.. H. L. BISCHOFFSHEIM. Ms. W. WALDORF ASTOKi) 

Honorary Trtoiurtr r-r- Mr. HENRY MORRIS. Srtrtiorr .— Mr. FREDERIC G. HALLETT. 

GtrureU SuccnnltnMnt of Rtuorcx and \ 

D,r, l ,orof,i.C<n,ro 1 Laoora l ory:- \ ^ * F ' BASHFORD. 
Hvnirr- °**" "f "^ F "" d ~ 

EXAMINATION HALL, 
\to«e"~ VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, 

! " COH '°j:;„.. 'LONDON. W.C 



'July. 15th., 190r„ 

Sir, 

With reference to your letter of the 11th. inst . , 1 have 
again perused your previous co.maunications and the memorandum, 
accompanying then, and I beg to inform you that I am unable tb' 
take any action .in regard to the matter to which you draw atteftr- 
tlon. 

J am, Sir, 

Youra faithfully, 



J.R. Guelph-Normaj. Esq., M.D. 



-fjQ^ 



4<%6 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpfi 

GUELPH CUKES FOR CANCER AND CONSUMPTION. 

1st January, 1908. 
His Majesty, King Edward VII., 
Sandringham House, 
Sandringham. 

Sire : Permit me to wish Your Majesty a Happy 
New Year. I pray Almighty God that the New 
Year may witness the realization of the two great 
objects which have characterized Your Majesty's 
reign as that nearest approaching the Divine Con- 
stitution of the King of Kings, viz : 

The establishment of the reign of the (moral) 
law, by the adoption of an International Con- 
stitution of the United Nations of Earth, to the 
Glory of God and the Salvation of men, and — 

To confirm the last two paragraphs of my 
telegraphic message of Christmas Day to Your 
Majesty, which read as follows: 

"It is my privilege to announce at this season 
that Your Majesty's untiring efforts to stamp out 
the national scourges of Cancer and Consumption 
are about to be crowned with success through the 
successful results of extensive research of Messrs. 
Carpender and Guelph. The systems for the Pre- 
vention and Cure of these diseases is my Christ- 
mas offering to my King and Country. I pray 
Your Majesty's acceptance thereof, for the good 
of the Empire." 

Supplementing the foregoing telegraphic com- 
munication of my offer as a Christmas gift, 
through Your Majesty, to the British Empire, of 
the said systems of medical treatment, viz : 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 427 

1. The Guelph System for the prevention and 
cure of Consumption and other forms of tuber- 
culosis. 

2. The Guelph System for the prevention and 
cure of cancer and other abnormal growths. * * ;! 

Unfortunately for suffering humanity, the same 
traditional prejudice of the medical profession 
which prevailed fifty years ago still stalks through 
the ranks of the profession, and not less than one 
hundred million lives have been sacrificed on the 
altar of Conservative Professionalism from Can- 
cer alone since the father of the rational cure for 
Cancer (Dr. Geo. W. Carpender) first demonstrat- 
ed that this dread disease can be both prevented 
and cured, and gave his discoveries to the world, 
only to be discredited and assailed by those who 
were not worthy to lace his boots. 

In the introduction of remedial agents for such 
diseases, I fully recognize the importance of due 
investigation before adoption of the same, but 
when the results of years of research by an emi- 
nent physician, and the incontestable results of 
clinical tests are condemned by those who sit in 
the seat of the scornful, without any investigation 
whatever, while five million lives are annually sac- 
rificed from consumption, and about the same 
number from cancer, while the doctor and physi- 
cian stand by the bedside of the victims, and say, 
"No, don't try that, the patient must die," what 
can he say, who knows that such victims can be 
saved by rational medical treatment, if only the 
same is adopted before the vitality has been com- 
pletely exhausted. He can only look upon those 



428 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

whose prejudice and bias condemn the untold mil- 
lions to death, and say : ' ' You are the greatest ene- 
mies of the human race — you are responsible for 
more murders than have been committed by all 
other murderers from Cain to the present day — 
you have sacrificed more lives on the altar of ig- 
norance and bigotry than have been slain in bat- 
tles in the history of the world — you are the great- 
est hindrance to the progress of science and to the 
legitimate demands of suffering humanity." 

Commencing about fifty years ago, the Eev. 
George W. Carpender M.D. (Ann Arbor, Mich., 
'53), published the results of his researches and 
early clinical experience in the treatment of can- 
cer. He also demonstrated his system for many 
years by means of lectures before various medical 
colleges and medical associations. The incredu- 
lity, bias, and prejudice with which his statements 
and clinical reports were received by the profes- 
sion did not, be it said to their honor, prevent 
medical men from sending their cancer cases from 
different parts of the country to this eminent and 
fearless specialist. Of all the cases taken up and 
treated by him, not one was lost ! 

The practitioners who sent the cases and 
watched the treatment, admitted the cures, but 
they invariably changed their ground by stating 
that they and others who had diagnosed the cases 
as cancer, including, of course, the most eminent 
specialists, were clearly in error, as shown by the 
cure — as cancer, an "incurable disease," could not 
be cured. Hence, it is that there was not found a 
case of cancer in the land; and, according to the 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 429 

"wise ones," the uselessness of "cancer re- 
search," in so far at least as the idea of finding a 
cure for an "incurable" disease is concerned, and 
cancer research, according to this "professional" 
opinion, a most ridiculous farce. 

For some years prior to my entering into part- 
nership with Dr. George W. Carpender in 1899, 
my colleague had discontinued to publish in the 
medical journals the results of his later, and im- 
proved, methods of treatment. His reason for so 
doing being chiefly on account of the fact that 
while the members of the medical profession re- 
fused to admit the truth of what they beheld with 
their own eyes (as in the case of the contempo- 
raries, over forty years of age, of the illustrious 
Harvey), the unqualified quack, taking advantage 
of the indisputable results of Dr. Carpender 's 
treatment of cancer and the published formulae on 
the one hand, and the professional prejudice and 
bigotry on the other, entered the field and reaped 
a rich harvest, and, incidentally, brought the great 
discoveries of one of the greatest physicians that 
ever lived, into greater disrepute. 

Without elaborating further upon the now per- 
fected systems of treatment herein referred to, I 
can not but feel that the unceasing practical in- 
terest which you have taken in the subject of can- 
cer and consumption for so many years, both as 
Prince and King, for the saving of life and for 
the alleviation of the suffering of so many mil- 
lions of Your Majesty's subjects, will enforce the 
claim of Your Majesty's commands respecting the 
proper investigation of the system of treatment 



430 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

for the diseases specified herein, a brief history 
of which I have prepared for submission to Your 
Majesty. * * * 

It will afford me great pleasure to depute Wil- 
liam Pitt Carpender, M.D. (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 
and Frank Blair Humphreys, M.D. (Ann Arbor, 
Mich.), nephews of my colleague, Dr. George W. 
Carpender, or other practitioners, to meet any 
Commission that Your Majesty may he graciously 
pleased to appoint in the interests of the public 
health and the advancement of science, to demon- 
strate before such Commission the merit of the 
various lines of preventive and curative treatment 
comprising the Guelph Systems for the Prevention 
and Cure of Cancer and Consumption, according 
to the various stages -of development of the re- 
spective diseases in different cases. 

When the value of the Guelph Systems shall 
have been thus satisfactorily reported upon by 
Your Majesty's Commission, and my offer for- 
mally accepted by Your Majesty on behalf of Your 
Majesty's Empire, the full formula and other par- 
ticulars governing the treatment of the respective 
diseases will be formally handed over to Your 
Majesty or to such authority as you may be gra- 
ciously pleased to empower to receive the same. 

Awaiting Your Majesty's most gracious per- 
mission to submit the Eeport herein referred to 
for Your Majesty's personal inspection, 
I beg to remain, Sire, 
Your Majesty's Most Obedient Servant, 

John R. Guelph, M.D. 




'HE LATE REVEREND GEORGE W. CARPENDER, M. D. 

The celebrated specialist of Chicago. Father of the rational 

medical treatment of cancel'. For some years a 

colleague of Prince John De Guelpn 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 431 

PRINCE OF WALES AND CANCER RESEARCH IMPORTANT 

WARNING AGAINST MISLEADING STATEMENTS — • 
PUBLIC HEALTH SACRIFICED TO PRO- 
FESSIONAL PREJUDICE. 

In the published report of the sixth meeting of 
the General Committee of the Imperial Cancer 
Research Fund, held at Marlborough House, un- 
der the presidency of His Royal Highness, the 
Prince of Wales, in July, 1907, certain statements 
are presented to the public as being official, au- 
thoritative and absolute on the present knowledge 
of cancer; of its nature, cause and cure of which 
the public is assured, nothing is yet known. 

The grave responsibility incurred by members 
of the Royal family in consenting to act as the 
mouthpieces of a professional body, such as the 
Imperial Cancer Research Fund, is amply illus- 
trated in the presidential address of the Prince 
of Wales at the meeting. 

In expressing the satisfaction of the General 
Committee at the "growing confidence of the pub- 
lic in the work of the fund, ' ' as shown ' ' from the 
endeavors which are now being made in France, 
Belgium, Scandinavia and the United States to 
organize similar investigations," and last, but 
not least, by the munificent donation of £40,000 
from Mr. and Mrs. BischofTsheim, the Prince said, 
"the broad lines of inquiry undertaken by the Im- 
perial Cancer Research Fund have, we feel, in- 
fluenced the whole nature of investigation at home 
and abroad." And again, "It is recognized that 
the work is conceived and carried out in a liberal 



13& Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

spirit; that whatever facts are ascertained (for or 
against the curative value of 'alleged' cures) are 
immediately made known to every one; that our 
material is freely placed at the disposal of all who 
are qualified to use it to good advantage ; that our 
staff is not working for its own ends, but with a 
ivhole-hearted desire to help on a solution of the 
problem. ,, 

''Although many new facts have been ascer- 
tained, they do not as yet justify hopes of a new 
treatment." "It is hoped, therefore, that the pub- 
lic will continue by its sympathy and financial as- 
sistance to support the work of the Imperial Can- 
cer Research Fund, and be willing to exercise the 
patience necessary for the prolonged and sys- 
tematic investigation." 

"The fact that alleged cures are being submit- 
ted to impartial tests, such as the report shows 
to have been done in the case of trypsin, will, I 
hope, assure the public that everything will be 
done to take full advantage of any means that may 
be discovered to alleviate suffering." 

The above excerpts speak for themselves (the 
italics are mine), "broad lines;" "liberal spirit;" 
"alleged cures" submitted to "impartial tests," 
"facts immediately made known;" "alleged 
cures" condemned, "no curative value" could be 
attached to any of those which had been tested; 
no hope yet for a new treatment, and the public 
is expected, of course, to accept this as authori- 
tative, final. 

Be patient, suffer and die by tens of thousands, 
we are the Imperial authority — wait till we have 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 433 

concluded our experiments in breeding cancerous 
mice. 

The tenor of the addresses and of the General 
Superintendent's report is that of Imperialism. 
The whole world takes its cue from the Fund ; and, 
rightly or wrongly, the public must accept the 
ruling of that august body. 

To the interested public, the line of research fol- 
lowed by the Fund is anything but "broad," "lib- 
eral" and "impartial." The report of the Gen- 
eral Superintendent for 1906 stated as follows : 

' ' The advance in our knowledge now enables us 
to reproduce at will all the features of spontane- 
ous cancer in mice, and to protect healthy mice 
from all the consequences of inoculating them 
with experimental cancer. This having been 
achieved, it is not too much to hope that the 
further development of the experimental study of 
cancer will ultimately yield results having a di- 
rect bearing on the nature and treatment of can- 
cer." This year the same fad is being closely 
followed. "By removing tumors surgically, mice 
had been got to breed, and by successively cross- 
ing them with other mice naturally suffering from 
cancer, any hereditary tendency which might exist 
was being concentrated. In the course of a few 
years ( ?) the vexed question of hereditary would, 
therefore, be settled one way or the other." 

It would seem that experimental inoculation of 
cancer in mice to produce cancer; to remove tu- 
mor surgically in mice; to breed by scientifically 
crossing cancerous mice to prove or disprove the 
hereditary nature of cancer (in mice), has been 



4341 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the hobby for some years, and is expected to be 
so for at least "a few years" to come. 

In the meantime forty thousand people are dy- 
ing in England annually from this dread disease, 
and the public is assured in all seriousness that 
the Fund is examining all so-called or " alleged " 
cures brought before it and that every advantage 
is taken of any means that may possibly alleviate 
suffering. The only thing the public is asked to 
do is to support the work financially and to wait 
— or die — patiently; try nothing to save life, 
because the General Superintendent has subjected 
every "alleged" cure to impartial tests and de- 
clares that there is nothing of any curative value 
— awful responsibility. 

On the 25th of September, 1906, the writer ad- 
dressed a letter to His Majesty, the King, Patron 
of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, relative 
to a specific treatment for the prevention and cure 
of Cancer and Consumption. A memorandum was 
enclosed giving some particulars of the treatment ; 
and His Majesty was asked in the name of hu- 
manity to cause the system to be made the sub- 
ject of investigation, i.e., submitted for "impartial 
tests." 

I am happy to be able to state that His Majesty 
at once recognized the importance of the sub- 
ject, and commanded that the paper be forwarded 
to the Secretary of the Imperial Cancer Eesearch 
Fund, and conveyed his thanks to the originator 
of the Guelph system. 

On the same date, 25th September, a similar 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 435 

letter was addressed by the writer to the Imperial 
Cancer Research Fund. 

The following is a copy of the reply : 

Examination Hall, 

Victoria Embankment, 
London, W. C, 3rd October, 1906. 
' ' Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of 25th ult. and enclosed memorandum and 
I am to inform you that it is contrary to the prac- 
tice of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund to 
countenance the application of secret remedies, 
the nature of which has not been made the sub- 
ject of independent investigation in our labora- 
tories. 

"I have to add that a somewhat similar com- 
munication addressed by you to His Majesty, the 
King, has been forwarded to this office. I am, 
Sir, Yours faithfully, 

"Frederic G. Hallett, Secretary. 

Thus the authority, pleasure and interest of His 
Majesty, the King and the Patron of the Fund, 
was ignored, and the last paragraph of the above 
letter fully expresses the contempt in which His 
Majesty's opinion is held by the "Committee." 

I am now waiting funds to establish Sanatoria 
for the treatment of these diseases and will pub- 
lish the full report and correspondence on the sub- 
ject and also challenge the Medical members of the 
Fund, who, sheltering themselves under the influ- 
ence of the royal patron, and other royal and in- 



4<S6 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

fluential supporters ; deliberately turn down a sys- 
tem of cure of the disease for the discovery of 
which is the sole purpose for which the Fund was 
established. Considering that the system spoken 
of here also applies to the prevention and treat- 
ment of consumption, from which disease one mil- 
lion deaths occur annually in Europe, sixty thou- 
sand being contributed by England, and possibly 
over two million in the British Empire, and that 
more deaths result from cancer than from all the 
following diseases — smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid 
fever, scarlet fever, measles and whooping-cough, 
and the terrible responsibility resting on the 
shoulders of the Official of the Imperial Cancer 
Eesearch Fund, who refused to investigate a sys- 
tem, even at the suggestion or command of His 
Majesty, the King, and then hoodwinked the public 
by saying that "alleged" cures are impartially 
tested, is one that calls for investigation. 

The Guelph system is not an " alleged" cure, but, 
as previously stated, an established "fact," which, 
according to the Prince of Wales, should be "im- 
mediately made known to everybody," that some 
of the 5,000,000 lives lost annually from consump- 
tion, and some of the millions dying from can- 
cer might be saved and the disease prevented. 

(Signed) Jno. E. Guelph. 



Memoirs of Prince John Dc Guelph 437 






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Dr Ouelph Norman, 

7. Caldervale Road, 
Glapham Park, 
S.-W. 

Bear Dootor, 

"AmritaaT ig before some likely peopla, 

and I am waiting fhelr dioislons* I am 

almost as Impatient in the matter aa you 

must t&vh but It would be fatal to show ltg 

Otis I have set out moat fullj^and 
In detail for the council of the Incorpora- 
ted Medieal Practitioners Association, but. 
I have hot heard any report upon it 80 far. 
X have also taken stops to make It known 
that you would be'"prepared to aooept a 
partner, and would prefer a pby3ioian|ln 
tha establishment of your homes, but that 
you are not prepared to take any person. 
It suet be a persona gratsg 
Yours truly, 

tf&a 




Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 439 



^Jcrts/otr.AC. UK* Deer" /.9 <* 



ilCtP»» LOMOOH- 



Dr Ouelj-h Noiuan, 

7 Caldervale Road, 
Clapham Park, 

s.w. 

Dear Sir, ^UA^P*^ 

T have receive* today a letter froa 
the Incorporated Medical Practitioners 
Association, of which I enoloae a copy. 
The concluding part or this letter strikes 
me as- pretty strong\ I wonder what they 
axe going upon? I, ahould aay that they, 
or some or them, have approached the 
aemhers, or a M-be^aT the Royal occasion, 
and that^as you are at loggerheads with 
tM», tney nave put a spoke » your wheej* 
with the I.M.P.Ai 

■yours truly, ( 

THE INCORPORATED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS' ASS'n 

Moorgate Station Chambers, 
London, E. C, 17th December, 1906. 

A. J. Hills, Esq., 

5 Laurence Pountney Hill, 
Cannon Street, E. C. 

GUELPH-NORMAN TREATMENT. 

Dear Sir: 

At the Meeting of the Council held in Novem- 
ber, it was resolved that your letters on this mat- 



440 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

ter shall be given to the President, who should 
go through them and report to the next Meeting 
of the Council. That Meeting was held last Thurs- 
day, the 13th inst., and there was a general dis- 
cussion on the matter after the President had 
given his views, and it was resolved that I should 
write and thank you for the trouble you have 
taken in the matter, and for your endeavor to 
benefit the members of this Association, but to ad- 
vise you that the Council can only consider it in 
the nature of a quack remedy, and that, there- 
fore, they cannot be connected with it in any way. 
Yours truly, 
(Signed) John Sell Cotman. 



7 Caldervale Road, 
Clapham Park, S. W. 
19 December, 1906. 

I.M.P.A. AND THE GUELPH TREATMENT. 

Major A. J. Hills. 
My Dear Sir: 

Your favor of yesterday with copy of a letter 
from the I.M.P.A., reporting the action taken 
by that august body on the Guelph Sterilization 
System for the prevention and cure of cancer and 
consumption was duly received. 

Pray accept my thanks for having brought this 
important matter to the notice of the Incorporated 
Medical Practitioners' Association. In having so 
caused this representative body of British physi- 
cians to record the resolution adopted at the meet- 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 441 

ing of the Council on Thursday, 13th inst., you 
have, in my opinion, done the public a service. 

The concluding part is, as you remark, "pretty 
strong," but withal, perfectly natural— it was ever 
so, " quack, quack, quack!" Medical history is 
full of the familiar cry. All that is deserving 
of any consideration in the realm of medicine has 
been forced upon the medical world, and for the 
saving of life, to the accompaniment of the pro- 
fessional chorus — " quack! quack!! quack!!!" 

The report of the I.M.P.A. on the conquest of 
cancer by the Guelph System will be most care- 
fully preserved as the richest, if not the most 
highly prized, of the records of the Institution. 
In justice to the medical profession, and for due 
protection of the public health and general interest 
the unqualified verdict of the I.M.P.A. against a 
system of treatment without even a pretense to in- 
vestigate the merits of the same, shall be duly re- 
corded by or through the official organ, when the 
same shall be published, in a column facing the 
clinical reports on results of the practical appli- 
cation of the system. 

My letter of last evening explains the position 
of the system. The attitude of the institution 
must be aggressive pioneer effort in combating 
the scourge of the earth — (cancer and consump- 
tion) — and its greatest ally, the "Quack! quack!! 
quack ! ! ! element of the medical profession. 

A year from now the Guelph medical will be 
held in as high esteem as is the Guelph political 
to-day. Yours very truly, 

(Signed) Jno. R. Guelph. 



442 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



solicitors C£» CJ2<r^ 



'MUNrCEPS. LONDON: 



Dr Guelph Norman, 

7 Caldervale Road, 
Claphain Park, 
S.W. 



Dear Doctor, 



Your plan and challenge ought to 
them sit up! t am rather diggusted ( 



XX your euro be worthless, the Doctors 
did not stand to ouxi'er by it in any way, 
neither would you have gained, Ir it be 
valuable, then^or a silly rod ( they are 
simply flouting it^&JwiA/ ^jMxtt **£ » 
Yours truly. 




Memoirs of Prince John De Guelpfo 443 
THE LORD naYQR'S CRIPPLES FUND. 



Tifie Aansion Hoose. 

London. E.C. 

Clo^vfeonv ftwA, SOU. 

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The following is the copy of a letter from a gen- 
tleman of prominence who went from England to 
see Prince John De Guelph. It furnishes an idea 
of what the attitude of the British public will be 



444 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

when the wrongs inflicted upon the Prince John 
and his royal mother are fully comprehended : 



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446 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 



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Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 447 

STORY OF QUEEN VICTORIA AND PRINCE ALBERT 's 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DANISH COURT. 

When in San Francisco I one day made the ac- 
quaintance of a pretty little woman, a Mrs. Mae 
Ogden, wife of a member of the police force of 
that city. 

I took an artistic interest in this lady's voice 
and consequently she was for a time almost in 
daily touch with me. One day while she was sing- 
ing for me the Prince came home (he was then in 
business with my father), and I begged him to 
come in that he might give his opinion of my 
newly discovered "song-bird." 

After he had listened to her and manifested his 
pleasure and expressed his good wishes for her 
future, he retired and we took up our private 
conversation again. 

Mrs. Ogden then turned to me and said, "What 
did you say the gentleman's name was?" 

"Mr. Guelph," I replied. 

"Guelph," said Mrs. Ogden, that is the name 
of the Royal family of England. I did not know 
there were any others by that name." 

"I believe there are not," I again replied. 

"Why then how do you make that out?" 

she said, deeply interested. 

"I mean that his intimate friends know him as 
a Prince, he belongs to the Royal family of Eng- 
land and is the legitimate issue of King Edward 
VII and his first Princess-Consort- It is pretty 
generally known that King Edward married a 
beautiful Irish belle, who was a descendant of one 



448 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

of the proudest, most ancient and noblest Houses 
of the United Kingdom, whose ancestral seat was 
in Ireland. The lady was said to be the most 
beautiful in the four kingdoms." 

As I spoke her face flushed crimson and then 
paled as though she were more than ordinarily in- 
terested and she finally stopped my remarks by 
saying — 

"Oh, I believe I know all about it — isn't this the 
most extraordinary meeting in the world? Why, 
my mother and father have entertained my 
brothers and sisters and myself through our child- 
hood with the story of the Prince of Wales' first 
love, the unhappy bride, and the unfortunate little 
Prince," she stopped and thought a second or two 
and said, "His name is John, is it not?" 

"It is," I replied. "How do you know that 
it is?" 

"Because that was the name of the poor little 
Prince who was to be put away from his mother 
among strangers that he might grow up among 
the people and away from the influence of the 
court. ' ' 

"My father," she continued, "took charge of 
the Royal hunting farm and both my parents were 
Royalty's trusted servants. When the marriage 
of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, with Prin- 
cess Alexandra was first talked of, Queen Vic- 
toria, Prince-Consort, Prince Christian (he was 
not yet King), and the Princess Louise of Den- 
mark retired to the hunting farm for the con- 
ference upon that matter and my parents were in 
'and out of the room in attendance upon their 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 449 

Majesties all during that conference. The matter 
of this meeting had been kept quite a secret. My 
parents have told us often how the two Royal hus- 
bands advised Queen Victoria and Princess Louise 
of Denmark afterwards Queen Louise), that under 
the circumstances it would be a dangerous experi- 
ment to form any new alliance for the Prince of 
Wales and more especially on account of the high 
rank of the Prince's young and beautiful bride, 
and also because there was issue and that issue a 
Prince. The Prince-Consort also warned Queen 
Victoria that she must remember that in Edward 
they had no such unfaithful and vacillating Prince 
as was George IV and that he had warned them, 
in fact had sworn that if they insisted in thus 
separating him from the wife of his choice, whom 
he considered quite qualified in rank and in every 
way fitted to be the future Queen of England, that, 
if his first marriage, his bride or the issue, the little 
Prince John, ever faced him or claimed their first 
right, he would never disoivn them. The Prince 
Christian said that there was no doubt but that, 
as the first marriage had been duly performed in 
the regular way, the issue would become a serious 
obstacle to the heirs of Alexandra and he seriously 
advised Queen Victoria to permit the first mar- 
riage to stand. The Prince-Consort also stated 
that if the English people ever came to know the 
truth of the matter and the manner in which 
Queen Victoria meant to hush it up and to 
put away the Prince, that the people would rise 
up in righteous indignation at such proceedings 
wihch might actually form the basis for serious 



450 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

trouble and revolution, more especially as the 
British people were very religious as a whole 
and most particular on the marriage ques- 
tion. That this in fact was the trend of the argu- 
ment and it was because Queen Victoria did 
have misgivings on this subject that she kept the 
bride in Windsor Castle until after the birth of the 
Prince John that she might take care of and keep 
all the evidence as nearly as possible in her own 
hands; that she had engaged nurses from her 
own county and whom she felt certain she could 
trust ; that the bride was afterwards turned away 
with a broken heart bereft of her husband and her 
little son." 

So, she said, the story went and that all Den- 
mark knew of it before Alexandra's marriage. 

I saw Mrs. Ogden a few days after the earth- 
quake. She was well, but her parents were both 
in very bad health as a consequence of the shock 
and terror they had experienced. Whether they 
are now living I do not know, but the daughter 
was living and well a year ago, as I had a very 
nice letter from her. 

Since I came to Brooklyn I met a Miss Jacobs, 
from Denmark, and she said she had often heard 
of King Edward's first marriage and that it was 
well known and was common talk in Copenhagen 
at that time and that the people had no sympathy 
with their methods of doing the first wife and the 
little Prince John out of their rightful inheritance 
in that wholesale manner. They were pleased at 
the honor paid to their Danish Princess, but did 
not approve of ignoring a marriage that was a 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 451 

sacrament, and legal contract in the eyes of 
Church and State. 

Anne Elizabeth, Princess De Guelph. 
18th August, 1910. 



EMPIRE REFORM LEAGUE. 

The Empire Reform League is established to 
secure the abrogation of certain laws enacted in 
the Middle Ages and at later periods which are 
inapplicable in the twentieth century in that, the 
provisions of said Acts are contrary to the princi- 
ple of religious liberty, are arbitrary, oppressive, 
and unjust. The said Acts have been productive 
of gross injustice, poverty, distress, and wanton 
sacrifice of life; the said Acts are responsible 
for the long-continued oppression in Ireland, the 
wholesale evictions and unjust executions; for the 
increasing frequency of famine and pestilence in 
India; for the excessive taxation of the people 
and the unhealthy economic conditions through- 
out the Empire and the consequent political un- 
rest, jeopardizing the peace of the world. 

Lastly, the said barbarous Acts are responsible 
for the* infamous custom of Royal polygamy in 
the Reigning House, for the discarding of the 
rightful Queen and the disfranchisement of the 
eldest legitimate son and heir, the King-Emperor 
de jure. 

The following are a few of the Acts to be re- 
pealed, the same being prejudicial to the peace of 



45£ Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

the world, repugnant to the tenets of the Chris- 
tian religion, and revolting to the moral senti- 
ment of the civilized world: 

1. To repeal the Act of Union — A just and 
necessary measure looking to the emancipation of 
Ireland, and to the development of closer friendly 
relations between the parties thereto than is pos- 
sible under the said distasteful Act of Union. 

2. To repeal the barbarous Act of William and 
Mary (the Bill of Eights.) The said Act being 
inapplicable in the present age of civilization in 
that it is contrary to all principles of religious 
liberty and to the moral sentiments of all civilized 
nations. 

3. To repeal the Act 34, Edward III, passed at 
a Parliament heM at Westminster on the Sunday 
next before the Feast of the Conversion of St. 
Paul A. D., 1360-61, obsolete in Great Britain, but 
still applied in Ireland. The said Act has been re- 
sponsible for gross injustice in that long-suffering 
country, in that it dispenses with: 

a. The production, as accuser, of any person 

threatened or injured by the accused. 

b. The right of an accused person to a trial 

by jury, and 

c. To institute those proceedings before the 

Court of King's Bench, from which deci- 
sion there could be no appeal. 

4. To annul and abrogate the 12 George III 
C. II. of 1772, the so-called Royal Marriage Act, 
which is a violation of the Laws of both Church. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 453 

and State, and of the Canonical and Civil dis- 
abilities by which marriages of Kings, Princes, 
and peasants alike are regulated in the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and which 
said so-called Act has from the date of its enact- 
ment been recognized as unconstitutional and in- 
operative and therefore obsolete, until the year 
1860, when the late Queen Victoria resorted to it 
to satisfy her autocratic whims in controlling 
royal marriages in the Reigning House, a weak- 
ness for which Her Majesty was most noted. 

The Empire Reform League will secure the en- 
actment of legitimate measures to provide for po- 
litical and economic reform and the more efficient 
administration of all matters tending to the ad- 
vancement of national prosperity and permanent 
good of the people, with special reference to the 
development of the natural resources, manufactur- 
ing, agricultural and other industries of Ireland 
and in India, for the amelioration of the condi- 
tion of long-continued adversity and suffering in 
those countries, and for the promotion of more 
friendly relations between Great Britain and Ire- 
land and America, and the development of inter- 
national commerce on lines of equity and justice, 
looking to the establishment of international 
peace. 

The case of the Prince John of Great Britain 
and Ireland, domiciled in the United States and 
known as Prince John de Guelph, the eldest legiti- 
mate son and heir-at-law of His late Majesty, 
King Edward VII, is supported by The Empire 
Reform League. 



454 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 
CAMPAIGN. 

The Empire Reform League will conduct an 
active political campaign throughout the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the 
British Empire, and through the United States 
of America, by means of public lectures, through 
the public press, and through its literary organs. 

Councils and branches of The Empire Reform 
League will be established in all large cities and 
towns, and the reforms herein referred to and 
other legislative measures that may be adopted by 
The Empire Reform League will be brought be- 
fore the Imperial Parliament in the regular man- 
ner and carried to a successful issue. 

Ladies and Gentlemen in sympathy with the ob- 
jects of The Empire Reform League are cordially 
invited to send in their applications for mem- 
bership. 

(Signed) John S. Lewis, 
Secretary. 

95 Cliff Street, New York City. 



GUELPH 
EDITOR'S NOTE 

A GENEALOGICAL SKETCH 

A.D. 1000 : — Oldest known ancestor, Hugo, Mar- 
quis of Este, a district in the province of Padua, 
Italy. 

Year 1055: — Albert Azon II, Marquis of Este, 
acquired by his marriage with Kunigunde, daugh- 
ter of Guelph II, Count of Altdorf, in Wurtem- 
berg, the domains of that house, and became a 
recognized Prince of the Holy Roman Empire of 
German nationality. This original German seat 
of the Guelphs in Germany is now known as Wein- 
garten, and has a famous abbey founded by the 
Guelphs. 

From 1070 to 1138, and from 1156 to 1180, the 
Guelphs of Este-Altdorf reigned as Dukes in 
Bavaria. 

On or about the fourth decade of the twelfth 
century, the Guelphs acquired by heritage the 
fief of Nordheim-Supplingenburg, their kinsman 
Henry of Orgueilleux marrying Gertrude, daugh- 
ter of the last Count of Supplingenburg, this 
Countship being an enclave in the Duchy of Bruns- 
wick. 

455 



456 Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 

About the same time the Guelph Henry the 
Black, Duke of Bavaria, acquired the right of 
succession in the Countship of Billin by his mar- 
riage to a daughter of the last Count, Magnus. 

From 1137 to 1138, and from 1142 to 1180, the 
Guelphs reigned as Dukes in Saxony. 

In 1811, as successors to the ancient Saxe Dukes, 
they acquired the Stewardship in Brunswick and 
Luneburg, ranking as German Duchies. 

On August 8, 1235, a Guelph assumed the style 
and title of Duke of Brunswick. 

In the year 1520, the Guelphs added to their 
titles that of Duke of Celle. 

In the year 1569 they assumed the government 
of Luneburg. 

March 28, 1660:— Birth of George, son of Elec- 
tor Ernest Augustus of Hanover, who, on August 
1, 1714, became King of Great Britain and Ire- 
land as George I. 

On March 22, 1692, the head of the House of 
Guelph assumed the style and title of Prince- 
Elector of Hanover. First Prince-Elector of 
Hanover: Ernest Augustus, Consort of Sophia, 
daughter of the Princess Palatine, Elizabeth 
Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, .granddaughter of 
James I of England, and.gi»eai-granddaughter of 
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. 

In the year 1697 the head of the House of 
Guelph was invested with the title of Duke of 
Saxe-Lauenburg. 

January 23, 1698 : — Death of Ernest Augustus. 
Succeeded by his son, George Louis, who dropped 
the last given name when he became King of 



'Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 457 

Great Britain and Ireland in addition to Elector 
of Hanover. 

1700:— Death of the Duke of Gloucester, last 
surviving son of Queen Anne of Great Britain and 
Ireland. 

March 22, 1701:— The British Parliament de- 
clared the Electress Sophia next in succession, 
and her son George was created Duke of Cam- 
bridge, the "Act of Settlement," so called, stipu- 
lating that the heirs of the Electress Sophia must 
be Protestants. 

May 28, 1714:— Death of Electress Sophia. 

August 1, 1714: — Death of Queen Anne. 

August 1, 1714 : — George Louis of Hanover suc- 
ceeded to the English throne by virtue of the Act 
of Settlement, and in default of issue from Anne 
and William. Took the name of George I. He 
was married to Sophia Dorothea of Celle. 

King George brought no Queen to England, as, 
on December 28, 1694, he had divorced his wife, 
Sophia Dorothea, heiress of Duke George William 
of Celle and Eleonore d'Olbreuze. 

When hereditary Princess of Hanover, Sophia 
Dorothea became the mother of a Prince (after- 
ward King George II), and a daughter named 
after her (later wife of Frederick William I of 
Prussia). In 1694 she was accused of holding il- 
licit relations with Count Philip of Koenigsmarck, 
"than whom a greater scamp does not walk the 
history of the seventeenth century, ' ' and Koenigs- 
marck was murdered outside of Sophia Dorothea's 
apartments at the Hanover Palace by order of 
her husband and father-in-law, on July 1st of that 



458 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

year. After the divorce, Sophia Dorothea was 
banished to the castle of Ahlden and became known 
as Princess of Ahlden. There she was kept a 
prisoner of state until her death, November 23, 
1726. 

September 27, 1714:— The only son of King 
George I proclaimed Prince of Wales. He was 
married to Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline of 
Ansbach. 

June 11, 1727: — Succession of George II — the 
Princess of Ahlden 's son — as King of Great 
Britain and Ireland. 

April 27, 1746 :— Battle of Culloden, making an 
end of the Jacobites under the "Young Pre- 
tender. ' ' 

October 25, 1760: — The grandson of George II 
mounted the throne as George III. His father 
was the late Prince Frederick Louis of Wales, 
married to Augusta of Saxe-Coburg. He was the 
first Guelph King of Great Britain and Ireland 
born in England (June 4, 1738). Charlotte Sophia 
of Mecklenburg was his wife. Under George III 
England acquired Canada from France and 
Florida from Spain, and lost the American colo- 
nies during the war begun in 1775 and concluded 
by the peace of Versailles, September 3, 1783. 

Up to 1811, George III had several temporary 
attacks of mental derangement ; he became hope- 
lessly insane in that year. He is the author of the 
infamous Royal Marriage Act, known as "12 
George III C. II," which practically sanctions 
bigamy in the royal house of Great Britain. He 



Memoirs of Prince John Be Guelph 459 

was probably insane when he conceived this state 
paper and forced its passage. 

January 29, 1820 : — Succession to the Crown of 
George IV, regent since 1811. He was the oldest 
son of George III. 

December 21, 1785: — Marriage of the above to 
Mrs. Fitzherbert. 

April 8, 1795 : — Marriage of the above to Caro- 
line of Brunswick, without divorce from Mrs. Fitz- 
herbert; but he refused to allow his plural wife, 
known as Queen Caroline, to be crowned. 

June 6, 1820: — George IV instituted divorce 
proceedings against Caroline in the House of 
Lords, charging infidelity, but the suit was aban- 
doned for want of evidence. 

June 26, 1830 :— Succession of William IV, 
brother of George IV, born at "Windsor, August 
31, 1765. His marriage to Adelaide of Meiningen 
was without issue. 

June 20, 1837 : — Succession of Victoria, Queen 
of Great Britain, the first Empress of India. She 
was the daughter of the Duke of Kent, a son of 
George III and a Coburg Princess. Victoria was 
born May 24, 1819, and on February 10, 1840, 
married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. She had 
issue as follows: 

Princess Victoria, afterward Empress Freder- 
ick of Germany ; Albert Edward, Prince of Wales ; 
Princess Alice, afterward Grand Duchess of 
Hesse (deceased) ; Prince Alfred, died as Duke of 
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Princess Helen, after- 
ward Princess Christian (deceased) ; Prince 
Arthur, created Duke of Connaught; Prince Leo- 



460 Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 

pold, created Duke of Albany (deceased) ; Prin- 
cess Beatrice, widow of Prince Henry of Batten- 
berg. 

In March, 1860, the Prince of Wales, afterward 
King Edward, married a noble Irish lady at Kings- 
town, Ireland. 

January 8, 1861 : — Issue of the above marriage 
born at Windsor Castle, named John, Prince de 
Guelph. 

March 10, 1863:— The Prince of Wales con- 
tracted another marriage, without the first being 
dissolved, with Princess Alexandra, daughter of 
the heir-presumptive of Denmark, Prince Chris- 
tian, afterward King Christian IX. 

Issue of this second marriage: Albert Victor, 
created Duke of Clarence and Avondale (de- 
ceased) ; George, Prince of Wales, now George V 
(uncrowned); Louise, Duchess of Fife; Princess 
Maud, now Queen of Norway. 

Status of the Queen of King George V: 

Mary, the Queen of George V, de facto King 
of Great Britain and Ireland, is the oldest daugh- 
ter of the late Princess Mary of Cambridge, first 
cousin to Queen Victoria and her husband, a mem- 
ber of the lower German nobility. 

Queen Mary's father is the issue of Duke Alex- 
ander of Wurtemberg and his morganatic wife, 
Claudine, Countess Ehedy, subsequently created 
Countess Hohenstein, but never recognized by any 
of the Continental courts. The King of Wurtem- 
berg named him Teck, after a ruined castle on 
the Danube, and threw in the title of Prince when 
the boy became of age. 



Memoirs of Prince John De Guelph 461 

After Prince Francis had been married to Prin- 
cess Mary five years, the Wurtemberg King cre- 
ated him Duke of Teck, and conferred the title of 
Prince and Princess on his issue. The Teck Ducal 
title was never recognized by any of the Conti- 
nental courts except that of Stuttgart. 



H 156 79 



f 1 ' 



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